The US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) has again paused its at-sea training programme over allegations of sexual assault.
According to multiple media reports, the federally-backed university — known colloquially as Kings Point — told students of the decision in a letter on Tuesday.
In September, a senior at the academy on Long Island posted online about her rape aboard a Maersk Line Ltd (MLL) ship when she was 19S. The student has become known as Midshipman X.
"We recognise this comes at a time when you have already been tested through nearly two years of profound disruptions and adjustments resulting from the Covid pandemic," wrote deputy transportation secretary Polly Trottenberg, acting maritime administrator Lucinda Lessley and USMMA superintendent vice admiral Jack Buono.
"While we know that this decision will be disappointing to many, we also expect that as leaders who have chosen the path of service, you will support it and each other."
The three officials said they hoped to have a plan with approval from lawmakers to restart the programme, known as Sea Year, in the coming weeks and recommence by December.
The USMMA first paused Sea Year in 2016.
The reasoning behind that pause was also over allegations of sexual abuse.
At the time, the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation and various US merchant mariner unions opposed the move.
The alumni association commissioned a study that argued there was no safety issue sending students to sea, while the unions argued shuttering Sea Year posed a "peculiar" threat to the industry.
In addition to Midshipman X's allegations, TradeWinds has reported that the former general counsel for the Maritime Administration, which oversees the academy, wanted to investigate sexual assault allegations at Kings Point as early as 2011 but was prevented from doing so.
The employee, Denise Rucker Krepp, told TradeWinds she was forced out of her position for requesting the Department of Transportation's inspector general to look into the claims.
TradeWinds also detailed the case of MLL captain Mark Stinziano, who is in jeopardy of losing his licence over sexual misconduct towards a second mate and two USMMA cadets on Sea Year.
Following Midshipman X's post, MLL suspended several officers that were on the voyage with her and launched its own investigation.
The US Coast Guard has also launched an investigation into her allegations.
