The former cadet whose shocking account of being raped at sea sparked demands for cultural change within shipping has called for tougher enforcement action after being told her alleged attacker continues to work on vessels.
Hope Hicks, who detailed her ordeal in a widely shared blog post in 2021 under the name of Midshipman X, said it was “sickening” that the man had reportedly been able to work at sea while under investigation by the US authorities.
Her revelations in September 2021 led to a spike in victims coming forward and forced the US authorities to introduce new laws to ensure attacks on its flagged vessels were reported to authorities.
But Hicks said nothing would change until the authorities successfully go after the men responsible for the attacks.
“It’s sickening to know that he’s still out there free to harm someone else,” Hicks said in a written response.
“But unfortunately, I’m not at all surprised. Predators have never been held accountable in this industry.
“Nothing will change until the US Coast Guard and the Department of Justice [DoJ] go after these predators and remove them from the industry.
Nothing will change until the US Coast Guard and the Department of Justice [DoJ] go after these predators and remove them from the industry
— Hope Hicks
“We need real action and real accountability from law enforcement much more than we need new policies.”
Hicks’ original account, posted on the Maritime Legal Aid and Advocacy (MLAA) website, detailed her experiences during her time on a Maersk Line Ltd vessel.
She said she was raped by an engineer 40 years her senior after being pressured into drinking until she blacked out during a placement on a merchant ship while a student at the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA).
Her online account detailed how assaults were commonplace among her female class members, saying at least five said they had been raped.
She waived her anonymity when she brought a legal claim against Maersk Line that was settled on undisclosed terms in November last year.
Maersk said last year it had fired five employees after carrying out an investigation into her claims.
Her lawyer, Ryan Melogy, who also runs MLAA, said that coast guard investigators had conducted a four-month investigation into her allegations that was completed by February 2022.
They then passed their findings to the DoJ in Florida to decide if it would accept a case for potential criminal prosecution.
But Melogy said that it has yet to make a decision. Until that happens, he said, the process to potentially revoke the man’s licence to work at sea would not start.
Melogy said he had received information that the man had been able to work at sea — but not for Maersk Line — and had received reports from women who had served alongside him without being aware of the US investigation.
“The coast guard policy is they cannot initiate a suspension and revocation action … until the DoJ says, ‘Yes we are going to prosecute’ or ‘No we are not’.
“So the guy is just sailing, getting on ships, we’re getting reports from people, women, that they’re getting on ships with him not knowing who he is … I mean, it’s insane.”
The US Coast Guard confirmed on Thursday that it generally waits before starting administrative action “avoid potential interference with the criminal investigation”.
It added: “The Coast Guard is unable to take action against a mariner’s credential based solely on an allegation.... The determination on whether to allow a mariner to continue working prior to suspension or revocation action against their credential is at the employer’s discretion.”
The man’s union has been contacted, but a spokesman said it was unlikely to comment on the circumstances of the case. TradeWinds has been unable to independently verify the man's return to work.
Melogy said the revelations by Hicks had led to about 100 women coming forward to report incidents at sea through his legal firm and campaign platform.
He said he is representing six women, including four current or former students of the USMMA, who say they have been abused at sea.
A presentation by the coast guard, which is responsible for investigating sexual abuse cases on US-flag vessels, said the number of assault and harassment cases it is receiving is increasing.
In 2019, it was conducting one inquiry against a mariner for sexual assault that could result in the loss of his licence. By July 2022, the number had increased to 20.
