After Internal Investigation into Midshipman-X Sexual Assault Allegations, Maersk Fires 5 Officers—Including Rapist, Chief Engineer, & Captain—and Sends Investigation Report to U.S. Coast Guard.

Via major Danish daily newspaper BERLINGSKE

February 8, 2022:

Maersk Fires 5 After Case of Possible Rape

It sent shockwaves through the country's largest company, AP Moller-Maersk, when, in October, a 19-year-old American female cadet described that she had been raped on board one of Maersk's ships.

The woman described the incident in an anonymous blog post, but the description was so detailed that the case quickly reached the table of Maersk CEO Søren Skous. Subsequently, five seafarers from the ship in question were suspended and an investigation was launched.

The results of this are now ready, Maersk informs in a written response to Berlingske.

"In the wake of the investigation, Maersk Line has terminated the contract with the ship's captain, engineer and third assistant engineer due to breaches of the company's alcohol policy among crew members," writes Maersk, adding that two more employees have been fired because they have not cooperation on the investigation of the possible rape.

"Due to the inability to talk to the parties involved about the allegations of rape, it has not been possible for Maersk Line to find evidence for the allegations," Maersk writes, adding that sexism and sexual harassment have no place in the company.

The original blog post states that the 19-year-old was the only woman on board when she began her internship on the ship.

She goes on to say that already at the beginning of the trip she was met with several sexist comments and, among other things, was told that women should not be on a ship, but should stay at home.

It went seriously wrong when the ship sailed out of a port in the Middle East. The sailors had allegedly bought significant amounts of alcohol, although it is forbidden to consume alcohol on Maersk's ships.

The woman chose to isolate herself in her room, but was reportedly asked to come up to the officers who made her drink what she estimates are eight to ten shots. She writes that she had never tasted alcohol before.

According to the description, one of the officers—a 60-year-old so-called first engineer—raped her at a time when she was heavily intoxicated.

According to the blog, it happened while there were still 14 days until the ship was ashore. Later in the trip, the alleged rapist dragged the 19-year-old woman into her office and asked her not to tell others about the course of events. He reportedly said no one would believe her anyway.

The woman at one point considered telling the ship's captain what had happened. He is described by the woman as someone who also likes to get drunk, but he was not drunk the night the woman was allegedly raped. However, she chose not to do so, partly because she had the impression that he was friends with the officers involved.

When the case came to light , Maersk informed Berlingske that the company was aware of who the people involved were.

“We can see via our databases who has been on the ship in question at that time. At the same time, job titles are mentioned in the blog, and therefore we know who is being referred to,” said Palle Laursen, who is technical manager at Maersk.

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On February 8, 2022, Berlinske followed up with a 2nd story that quoted Maersk as saying the company had forwarded the results of their investigation to U.S. Authorities:

…After the case came to light in October, five sailors from the ship in question were suspended. In addition, an investigation into the case was launched.

The results of that investigation are now clear, Maersk states in the written statement.

"Maersk Line (Maersk shipping company, ed.) Has now sent a report on the investigation to the US authorities."

"In the wake of the investigation, Maersk Line has terminated the contract with the ship's captain, chief engineer and chief executive, who has violated the company's alcohol policy," writes Maersk.

The company adds that two more employees have been fired because they did not cooperate in the investigation into the possible rape.

"Due to the lack of opportunity to talk to the parties involved about the allegations of rape, it has not been possible for Maersk Line to find evidence for the allegations," writes Maersk.

The company emphasizes in the statement that sexism and sexual harassment do not belong in the company.

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RAPIST NOW FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES

As previously reported by MLAA, the rapist-mariner now faces the possibility of federal criminal charges after the Coast Guard Investigative Service referred their criminal investigation report into the matter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.