Through Constant & Insane Sexual Harassment, Capt. Sam Irvin Prevented Me from Doing My Job, Undermined My Confidence & Placed Ship & Crew in Danger b/c I Would Not Agree to Sleep With Him
(This statement regarding Samuel Sullivan Irvin, III was written by the victim and submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard. It was obtained by MLAA through records requests. Portions have been redacted to protect the identity of the victim)
TO: COMMANDANT, U.S. COAST GUARD
From: 2nd Mate [REDACTED]
INCIDENT HISTORY & HARASSMENT BY CAPTAIN SAMUEL SULLIVAN IRVIN ONBOARD MAERSK LINE, LIMITED VESSEL
Immediately upon reporting aboard the vessel, several crew warned me not to get into the elevator with the just promoted Captain Samuel Irvin. When I asked why they all replied that he was not to be trusted alone with a woman.
26 OCT [REDACTED] 2330 I received a phone call from Capt Irvin. He said, “Come to my room and listen to some music.” Because of the warnings about the elevator and then later warnings about keeping some distance from him, I was very leery. Also, the small amount of time I had been in his company I knew that I didn't care for him and also that he wanted to get friendly with me. When he called me and asked me to come over I said, “Are you crazy? I've got watch in a few minutes and I have to pick up my laundry.”
After that incident (phone call), Capt. Irvin made it a point to come up to the bridge during my watch (12-4) EVERY DAY and HARASS me about anything. He would ask “Do you know this?...Do you know that?” He created a VERY HOSTILE work environment for me everyday. Witnesses to this harassment were the following individuals; CM [REDACTED]. 8-12 AB [REDACTED], 12-4 AB [REDACTED], and 4-8 AB [REDACTED].
I was so mentally exhausted at the end of my watch EVERYDAY. I told the Chief Mate, when he relieved me, “I can't get any of my work done, I cannot even think anymore!” This hostile environment continued the entire 5 week voyage until Captain Irvin went on vacation. Even after I complained to Chief Mate [REDACTED] (who became Captain after Irvin went on vacation) and told Irvin to leave me alone, Irvin never stopped and continued to harass me, belittle me in front of the crew and spoke ill of me to the unlicensed crew. He also shared sexual jokes with the watch AB's listed above in which I was the object of the jokes. I found this entirely offensive, an erosion of my leadership position and the most unprofessional behavior I have seen in the 12 years I have been in this profession. Every watch, and it didn't matter whether it was the 12 to 16 or the 00 to 04 watch, Captain Irvin would be calling or be on the bridge harassing me non stop.
Very soon after the onset of harassment began, I asked the CM and watch AB's to watch out for me as I became too nervous when he was around. They would come onto the bridge whenever possible, whether on watch or off, to make sure I didn't spend too much time alone with Captain Irvin.
03 NOV [REDACTED] 0000-0400 watch. The approach to the Brixham pilot station inbound was at the end of my watch. Traffic was busy and steady for the 4 hours and I was to call the Captain at the position/time designated on the chart. At approximately 0315 I called the Captain. I let the phone ring about 20 times or more. There was no answer. I informed my AB that I will try and call again in a few minutes for the Captain as we were approaching the Brixham pilot station very shortly. I called the Captain again and let it ring more than 20 times again, no answer.
This is the most dangerous situation I have experienced in my career…Not being able to reach the Captain upon entering a pilotage area. I was in full control of the busy traffic and at one point I had to make a course change to the north. However, I had to send the AB down to the Captain's room to get him out of bed. Captain Irvin finally came up about 10 minutes before the end of watch (0340). I had AB [REDACTED] standing by the helm and ready to make the course change to turn the ship to north. Captain Irvin stood by the wing door smoking and commenced asking me what the current was doing, what the set was, etc, etc. He didn't even look at the radar or the chart on the way in. He did not take over the conning of the vessel so I still had the conn. I knew generally what the current was doing simply by looking at the data displays on the radar, but that wasn't enough, he expected me to interpolate what the current was at Dover Strait and we weren't anywhere close to Dover Strait.
I was so flustered with his interrogation that I could not concentrate on the navigation of the vessel during this critical time. The 4-8 AB came on watch and I immediately put him on hand steering to make my course change while Captain Irvin was still talking and interrupting my Maneuvering and Navigation of the vessel. The Chief Mate walked onto the bridge and sized up the situation immediately, took the conn, made a VHF call to the [REDACTED] which was 3 miles away on a collision course, make passing arrangements and turned the vessel to safely pass the vessel and steering clear of the many fishing vessels that were out.
All of this I could have done with no problem as I have much experience in the Far East where heavy traffic is normal. But because of Captain Irvin’s harassment, he prevented me from doing my job, undermining my confidence, and allowing the vessel to be placed in a dangerous navigational situation. Plus, as he went by me I couldn't help but smell alcohol on his breath. I have NEVER experienced this kind of unprofessional conduct and it was to such a degree where the ship and crew were put in risk because of his need to harass me until I would agree to go to bed with him. This was the most insane situation I have been put in.
04 NOV [REDACTED] At anchor in Rotterdam. Captain was showing me the arrival slip on the computer. I was already feeling uneasy because of our close proximity to the computer. And there was no one else on the bridge. His routine throughout the voyage of making sure no one is around when “he wants to show me things on the computer” made me very uneasy ALL the time. So, when we were filling in the arrival slip, he told me to type in “SEA KITTY.” I said, “Excuse me?” (On the arrival slip is a space for the submitting officer's name and title) I was upset because the use of “SEA KITTY” was a derogatory referral to a woman's sexual genitalia.
Then I said, “I’m going to get you for that." Captain Irvin said, “Who's going to get me? Should I leave my door unlocked?” as he proceeded to not walk but run off the bridge. This was to me a bold declaration of his sexual intentions and a clear statement of his male superior opinion concerning women in the workplace.
09 NOV [REDACTED] 12-16 WATCH. Navigating through the Dover Straits. Many ferries and busy traffic area. Captain Irvin comes up to show me the New NAV Software. I told him I was busy with navigation and there were numerous ferry boats. He ignored my request to put off the training and leave me to the safe navigation of the vessel. I had to stand by the computer and I couldn't even pay attention to the software program because I was trying to watch the radars. I then informed my AB to keep a good lookout especially for the crossing ferryboats. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INTERRUPTED BY A CAPTAIN WHEN I AM TRYING TO KEEP THE SHIP SAFE AND AM BUSY TRYING TO DO MY JOB. Again, Continuous, Non-stop Hostile, Harassing Environment. IT NEVER ENDED!
I asked the Chief Mate to come to the bridge and start checking on me because I could not handle this Captain on my own. Everyday on my watch, Captain Irvin would be on the Bridge, never allowing me to do my work. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. Even when Chief Mate [REDACTED] told Captain Irvin in front of witnesses to stop harassing me, Captain Irvin ignored the warning and harassed me even more saying he was only “training” me.
12 NOV [REDACTED] 00-04 WATCH. About 1 hour into the watch, our visibility was reduced to zero. I called the Captain as per the standing watch orders. I let the phone ring over 20 times and could not reach him. I called again with the 20 rings and could not reach him a second time. After that, I sent the watch AB down to the Captain's room to wake him up. He did so and informed the Master that there was “zero” visibility. The Captain did not call me back. I guess he went back to sleep. I then called the CM and he gave me general instructions and to call him if a traffic situation were to develop. I took all necessary precautions to safely navigate the ship in reduced visibility.
16 NOV [REDACTED] AT ABOUT 10 AM. I was doing Pub Corrections in my room and made the mistake of having my door open. Captain Irvin saw me and wanted to show me some computer software in his office. I had several Publications in my hands and told him I had to get my corrections done. He had the nerve to mumble, “You have a problem with time management!” I did not comment but left his office. The fact is, Captain Irvin never left me alone on the bridge so I could get my work done. AB's [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] are witnesses to this and will testify to it. Also the CM witnessed his continual harassment and his frequent controlling to make sure he had “ALONE” time with me away from witnesses. On at least two occasions Capt Irvin countermanded CM instructions to me so he could, “keep the second mate with me because I want to show her something.” I have many witnesses to this besides the CM.
16 NOV [REDACTED] 00-04 WATCH. Captain Irvin blasted onto the bridge with his guitar reeking of alcohol and sat there for an hour playing his guitar and singing derogatory songs he had made up for the crew. It destroyed the professional night time watch that I maintain and I felt very uncomfortable that a Captain was behaving in this manner and saying cruel things about the different ships personnel. Very unprofessional behavior for anyone let alone the Master of the ship.
17 NOV [REDACTED]. I had the meal relief duty for the CM, Captain Irvin knew I was on the bridge because he came up and AB [REDACTED] was with me. Thank goodness. However, when the CM returned and I was showing him the traffic, the Captain held the bridge door open for me and would not leave until I left with him. This was after I told him a few times that I was going to be another few minutes with the CM. YET HE INSISTED AND WAITED. Finally, I could postpone no longer, I went down the ladder and quickly ducked into my room.
HOW COULD I WORK IN A STRESS FILLED, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT CREATED BECAUSE I REFUSED TO GO TO THE CAPTAIN'S ROOM FOR MUSIC OR FOR NOT TAKING HIM UP ON HIS SEXUAL ADVANCES. I HAVE BEEN PROPOSITIONED BEFORE IN THIS CAREER AND WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THE ANSWER WAS "NO," THE HARASSMENT STOPPED. BUT NOT IN THIS CASE. I KNEW I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE IRVIN WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP.
I will be taking a trip off [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] and will return to work [REDACTED] in [REDACTED]. I will not sail with Captain Irvin again. A copy of this accounting is being sent to the USCG for future action. This man should not be in a position of power on a ship or in any place where he is a supervisor of people and women in particular. I have also spoken with the Chief Mate for two trips and she is in the process of notifying the USCG and Maersk Line, Limited of even WORSE SEXUAL HARASSMENT she suffered 4 years ago working with Irvin.
I swear that this is all true so help me God.
[REDACTED]
DATED: 23 December [REDACTED]