I Sailed As a Deck Cadet with Maersk Under Chief Mate Samuel Sullivan Irvin. After a Few Weeks of Sexual Harassment, Being Around Him Became Unbearable and I Began Having Nightmares About Him.
*(This Statement was submitted by the victim (a former student at the USMMA) to the U.S. Coast Guard in connection with the USCG’s S&R Investigation into sexual predator Captain Samuel Sullivan Irvin, III. The statement was obtained By MLAA through records requests).
Statement to U.S. Coast Guard Investigators Regarding Samuel Sullivan Irvin
I [REDACTED] state that the following events and occurrences are factual:
I met the chief mate, Samuel Irvin, on 24 July [REDACTED]. I was the Deck Cadet. At first he was very proper and helpful.
After about week 2 Irvin made the first improper comment when I came up to the bridge at 0350 for watch. I had just put on scented lotion and come up to the bridge. Irvin was outside smoking a cigarette, he comes up behind me and takes a deep breath followed by the statement, “Damn you smell good.”
For the remainder of the 35 day trip comments like this continued. On several occasions while working on deck in a boiler suit he would make comments like, “I didn't think a boiler suit could look that good on anyone.”
A few times he also tried to persuade me to “marry him” saying that he has two sweet dogs and a house by a lake, he smokes so I'll outlive him and will be able to collect on his life insurance money, and he'd buy me any sports car I wanted. And other things to try and convince me to be with him.
Upon getting grease in my eye, he was about to flush it and said, “just go and lay down on my settee. I've wanted to say that to you all trip."
I had met [REDACTED] on a couple of occasions when she was the Night Mate on the vessel: She told me that her and Chief Mate Irvin had a bad relationship and she told me of the time that he bet one of the male cadets $400 that he (the cadet) couldn't sleep with her. She found out about this and teamed-up with the cadet to turn it around on Irvin. This story was also hearsay on the vessel.
After the first two weeks and the beginning of his inappropriate comments, being around him became unbearable. I couldn't do any work with him without a comment like “But you wouldn't be interested in an old man like me, would you?” It got to the point where I just didn't feel comfortable around him any more.
After about the third week I switched to the 2nd Mate’s watch “to observe what happens during other watch hours,” but really it was just to get away from him.
I ended up having nightmares about Irvin and confided in my Sea Partner and the 2nd and 3rd Mates.
They offered to say something to him but I wouldn't allow it because my work schedule happiness was in his hands.
I am writing this statement because I am required to, not because I want to in any way, shape or form. I have a fear of being black-balled in the industry and don't want to be associated as a whistle blower. For all intents and purposes I would like to be considered a hostile witness.
Respectfully submitted,
[REDACTED]
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Class of [REDACTED]