I Was Sexually Harassed by My Captain. When I Finally Stood Up to Him, He Retaliated Against Me.

* This account was submitted to MLAA by the victim who wishes to remain anonymous *

I remember calling a Chief Mate to the Captain's office so he could sit in and witness while I confronted the Captain on record.

The issue was that I was being harassed by the Captain because I didn't wear a bra. Anyone who knows me knows I hate those things and I have a right to wear my t-shirt without a bra.

But apparently this was a problem for the Captain. Some days he'd come up on the bridge on my 12-4 watch and spend 4 hours literally picking out my body parts one by one telling me what he'd like to do to them sexually.

When I finally stood my ground and pointed out how predatory his behavior was and that it wasn't welcome he went on to start verbally abusing me in front on my subordinates, daily, shouting profanities at me on the radio during mooring stations.

It got so bad that he would even write emails to the crewing managers demanding that I be signed off the vessel because he claimed I was incompetent. My competence has never been an issue for many years sailing with different mates and masters until the day I stood up to him.

My only sin was just to reject his sexual advances.