I Was Sailing as Master When the Chief Mate Entered My Day Room On a Sunday Afternoon and Raped Me

This anonymous submission was originally posted as a public comment to the account submitted by Mishipman-X. MLAA does not know the author’s identity.

I have only told my best friend that I was raped while serving as master of a vessel. My rapist was the Chief Mate, who entered my day room on a Sunday afternoon, the day before we were to disembark. He closed the door and then demonstrated to me who was the master of my life. After suffering years of discrimination (that has never ended), sexual and verbal harassment and underhanded physical approaches, this happened to me when I finally thought I was safe.

I fought against this bastard and I shouted. I was not impaired by alcohol, but it was not enough. On the vessel the crew can hear every breath, but nobody heard my shouts. The consequences for me and for my self-esteem, and even part of my sentimental life, are still visible to me.


At that time, what I was able to do was only to warn the Company, without any official reporting, that they should not place any of the young female cadets on their small fleet to serve below him.


After this happened, I continued sailing as Captain for a few more years. But there was a breach in the heart and in my shell. For sure I have been vigilant, even more than before. Over the years I have had woman cadets and engineer officers on board, and I always tried my best to keep all under control.

Once, I kicked a drunk 2nd engineer off the vessel, even against paradoxical male solidarity, but it was the best opportunity to save the woman engine cadet from his attention that was not genuine. And I noted he dragged behind him another younger person, and this need to be stopped immediately.


I never wrote anything about this, thank you for giving me this opportunity on this Sunday morning.

THANKS


Laura