While Sailing as Bosun on a Maersk Ship, a Female Cadet Told Me the 1st Engineer Had Sexually Abused Her. I Reported It to the Captain, But He Just Covered It All Up.

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 sailed as a Bosun on tankers and container ships until leaving 30 years ago. On a lark I decided to reactivate my status and sail once again. I was Bosun on a Maersk ship, I know that run well.

I had always found the Officers in the US Merchant Marine much more impressed with themselves than my experience in the Navy or even foreign flag ships I’d often visited in desolate ports or while out on the hook waiting for berths.

But something happened during those 30 years I was away and what I experienced on my return. The “officer arrogance” had alarmingly deepened. Worse yet, deck and engine officer’s recognition of this very obvious problem was conspicuously absent. It affects academy officers worse than hawsepipers but still, a deep culture of superiority has become predominant.

I have two grown daughters. I know when they are afraid of something. So when I saw that “look” on the face of a young female cadet on the Maersk ship I was on, I knew I had to do something. I knocked on the door to her cabin and asked her to visit me where my door was always open except when I slept. She showed up and with almost no prompting from me she broke down and shared her devastating account of abuse at the hands of the 1st AE, who was now Chief on this particular trip.

Knowing this was a one time trip at sea for me (UN-retiring is not for the faint-hearted) I had no qualms marching right up to the Captain to share her similar story of being pressured to drink and then being violated. He knew I would not go away without an answer.

After telling me how things are “these days” he proceeded to go through a well-rehearsed list of deflections, excuses, obfuscations, re-direction of blame and other verbal manipulations. He knew I wasn’t buying any of his baloney. I told him that a crime was committed on HIS ship and if he failed to report it, then I would. Not for the sake of that particular young lady but for the my own sense of duty. That cadet could’ve easily been one of the two female ABs that reported to me…or a daughter.

He promised he would report it to HQ in Virginia. He took statements and acted as if he were following an HR department script. The cadet was reassigned to work directly for the 2AE and other measures to ensure her safety. I took her into the crew mess to dine with us and helped her whenever I could.

Two weeks passed and the Captain called me to his office to inform me that the “Company is going to demote the Engineer by taking him off the relieving Chief rotation.” In conversation with the Captain it became obvious that he had concocted the whole story. He had not reported anything to anyone. Now I was pissed and he knew it.

In fact, when we got to Europe the cadet was escorted off the vessel and provided no explanation of what was happening to her. I took her to the airport, got permission to go to the gate with her and see her off. I gave her my contact information and assured her I would stand up for what happened to her.

She only called me once to tell me she left school and went home to her family. She needed to move on. I never heard from her again because she obviously needed to deal with her pain and build a new future...

This is what has happened to the United States Merchant Marine. This is an illustration of how such a proud institution with an honorable tradition has eroded over time to a mockery of drunken male-dominated thugs so afraid of losing their company standing, their union seniority or their Coast Guard papers that they will tolerate any injustice no matter how violent and infuriating.

If any cadets are reading this I encourage you to reach out to the Bosun or the Steward. We may not be officers but I believe any one is as leaders of our departments will keep you safe and stand up for you.

Go with God to you all.