MLAA Submits 2 Reports via CGIS Tips App Regarding LA Times Allegations of Sexual Misconduct & Unreported Sexual Assaults Aboard Cal Maritime Academy Training Ship
New York, NY
By MLAA:
MLAA has filed two separate 3rd party “tipster” reports to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) via the agency’s CGIS Tips app related to information contained in an April 13, 2023 report published in the LA Times titled “CSU women say they faced sexual abuse and harassment on a training ship,”
The 1st CGIS Tipster Report
The first Tipster Report submitted to CGIS by MLAA via the CGIS Tips app concerns a former Master of the T/S Golden Bear, identified in the LA Times article as Captain Louis Solana.
According to the LA Times, Captain Solana “sexually harassed women and made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community and women during a 2021 training cruise.”
The LA Times also reported that internal Cal Maritime records reviewed by the LA Times “showed that “multiple people accused Capt. Louis Solana of staring at women’s breasts, singing a lewd karaoke song and being openly dismissive of and derogatory toward women and the LGBTQ community.
MLAA’s CGIS report regarding Captain Solana also requests the CGIS to investigate whether or not Captain Solana or other Masters of the T/S Golden Bear ever violated the shipboard sexual assault allegation reporting requirements of 46 USC 10104 by not reporting allegations of shipboard sexual assault to the U.S. Coast Guard in accordance with federal law.
The 2nd CGIS Tipster Report
The 2nd Tipster Report submitted to CGIS by MLAA via the CGIS Tips app concerns allegations, contained in the LA Times report, that rapes, sexual assaults, and sexual harassment have been reported to Cal Maritime officials as having occurred aboard the T/S Golden Bear. However, according to the LA Times, Cal Maritime “did not report those allegations to federal maritime authorities and has not followed consistent procedures for handling wrongdoing on the vessel.”
According to the LA Times, “Interviews and internal campus records reviewed by The Times showed the allegations included two rapes reported in 2019, a sexual assault in 2022.”
MLAA has asked CGIS to investigate the shipboard sex crimes as well as the failure of the master of the T/S Golden Bear to report the allegations of these crimes to the U.S. Coast Guard IAW 46 USC 10104.
After making the reports to CGIS, MLAA received confirmation the reports had been received, as well as a “Tip ID Number” and a password to access additional communications with CGIS regarding our reports.
MLAA will continue to report on how the reports are handled by CGIS.