Coast Guard Commandant: Please Investigate a Sexual Predator Captain. The response to Our Allegations by Maersk and MMP “has been chilling to say the least.”

*(This letter was written by the victim and obtained by MLAA through records requests.)

Commandant

USCG Headquarters 

2703 Martin Luther King Ave SE

Washington, DC 20593

Dear Commandant,

This letter is to request that an investigation be made of Captain Samuel Sullivan Irvin III, a Chief Mate and Relieving Master with Maersk Lines Ltd of Norfolk, VA, Merchant Marine License Number [REDACTED] on charges of general harassment, sexual harassment, sexual abuse of a subordinate, dereliction of duty, and gross abuse of power.

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is [REDACTED]. I am a licensed unlimited tonnage Master, currently sailing off the board with the Masters, Mates, and Pilots union, as [REDACTED] aboard the [REDACTED]. I started my career as a cadet at [REDACTED] Maritime Academy and over the years have established a reputation as being a respectable professional officer and shipmate.

[REDACTED]

I am writing this letter on the behalf of a female mariner who is currently sailing as 2nd mate aboard the [REDACTED], for myself, and for other women currently unknown. Attached are statements from 2nd mate [REDACTED], Captain [REDACTED] and myself.

My statement gives an account of the mental and sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of Captain Samuel Sullivan Irvin when he was serving as Chief Mate aboard the [REDACTED] and I was sailing as Second Mate. I explain why I did not report his abuse at the time, while not trying to excuse myself for this very grave error. I also detail the toll these events took on my personal life, my mental stability, and my career.

2nd Mate [REDACTED]’s statement dated between 26 October and 17 November [REDACTED], being more contemporary, is more detailed in the exact events of the general and sexual harassment. The abuse she suffered fits the pattern of the abuse I suffered four years ago. I was shocked when I read her statement that not only was Captain Irvin mentally and emotionally abusing her, he was putting the vessel and crew in danger while he was engaging in this obsessive abuse.

Our combined statements demonstrate a pattern of behavior which can not be condoned in a master of a vessel. Our vessels are too large and our crews too small for women aboard the vessels to avoid being alone and exposed most of the time. I fully believe that had 2nd Mate [REDACTED] not reached out and asked for help from Captain [REDACTED] who sailed in the position of chief mate last voyage, and decided that she had to make a formal complaint to the company that the abuse would have become as grievous as the abuse I suffered at Captain Irvin’s hands.

When I joined the [REDACTED] I had no prior acquaintance with the 2nd Mate. Upon finding out that 2nd Mate [REDACTED] was filing charges against Captain Irvin and that her charges so closely mirrored my unfortunate experiences I knew that I had to abandon my privacy and file charges as well. The [REDACTED] is operated by Maersk Line, Limited, so we contacted the company's designated person and he came to the vessel in Norfolk to interview us, and four other witnesses. 

Since that time Masters, Mates, and Pilots has become involved. The response we have had from both the company and the union has been chilling to say the least.

2nd Mate [REDACTED] and I both feel that Maersk Line, Limited and Masters, Mates, and Pilots have vested interests in this case and cannot be expected to conduct an even-handed investigation. We are not interested in filing damages against either the union or the company. Our only goal is to make sure that Captain Irvin is taken from his position of power that allows him to inflict such damage on his officers and crew.

We respectfully request that the Coast Guard once more fulfill their traditional role of protecting the mariner and conduct an exhaustive investigation of Captain Irvin’s past interactions with female cadets, apprentices, officers, and crew, to ascertain if he is the predator we firmly believe he is. We further hope that Captain Irvin’s license will be suspended while the investigation is being conducted to ensure that he has no access to vulnerable women.

I am sending copies of this request to the Pacific and Atlantic commanders in hopes of uncovering previously unconnected allegations that may have been made against Captain Irvin in the past. We would greatly appreciate it if you could forward our plea to the appropriate office(s) of the Coast Guard for action.

I will be available to you investigators at any time the [REDACTED] is in port. I will be leaving the vessel at the end of January to return to my home in [REDACTED]. I will make myself available at your [REDACTED] office at any time when I return home [REDACTED]. 

2ndMate [REDACTED] is taking a voyage off starting [REDACTED] and will make herself available at any time until she returns to the ship on or about [REDACTED]. Enclosed is contact Information for the involved parties, witnesses, and character references for 2nd mate and myself.

With Best Regards,

[REDACTED]

Enclosed:

-Statements of Captain [REDACTED]

-Statement of Captain [REDACTED]

-Statement of 2nd Officer [REDACTED]

-Contact information