The older fellows have a stake in this culture change too. We have daughters and sons in this mix too. Use the recent tools and advice you have at your disposal, but verify by doing your job well. It should be no debate if it has has to come to that, but hope you get on a better ship, and you may find yourself liking this profession better than your first result. There are many ladies that have turned out to be most excellent leaders in spite of the challenges ahead of them back in the day They paved the way for you and others against many odds. They were accountable and talented. Follow that path they layed behind them, you will be fine. P.S. don’t put a drop of oil in the water. Kiss of death to your career.
2 Likes
I am sorry for this happening to you, but I disagree that it’s a “man’s world.” I too am a woman. If we were to restrict every industry based on someone being harassed somewhere, none of us would be able to work and put food on the table. I am well regarded by my male peers and am not about to hang it up because something bad happened to you. Incidentally, I was in the US Navy in the late 70’s through the 90’s and have been assaulted and have had death threats. Surrendering to this would have been a disservice to all the other qualified women out there and would have rewarded the perpetrators and I will be God damned if I ever let that happen.
11 Likes
Exactly the type mariners I was trying to refer to Catherder. You paid your dues, in a not so accommodating time., and helped perhaps make the path a bit easier for others. You certainly have my respect.
4 Likes
I believe that any company HR department would view it this way if they got wind of it and the whole ‘it can be handled aboard’ is a big part of the problem in my opinion. The shield that POS’s described by the OP feel they have because ‘the Captain has my back’ is something that needs to go away. This was a perfect example of when the DPA needed to be notified. Shit like this needs to be handled both aboard and ashore so the word gets out that you will not be keeping your job very long if you cross that line.
1 Like
I work for a major company as a senior officer along with a secondary role as a union rep for many years.
Unfortunately in this instance in Canada not the US so my knowledge of US labour rules and laws regarding harassment is not very good.
Your story is not uncommon, I’ve heard many similar stories, which unfortunately I found to be quite easily substantiated. I know quite a few very strong women who have worked their way up through the ranks.
Unfortunately reporting in general is a problem and people turn blind eyes not wanting to get involved. Often dismissing inappropriate behaviour as, “It’s only Joe he is like that” he’s a nice guy .
A friend was recently dismissed from a Masters position for failing to act.
Labour laws here require a supervisor to take action for bullying and harassment and worker compensation claims can be made against employers who fail to act.
Many women I know do not report many inappropriate behaviour not wanting to be known as someone who made a complaint.
Unfortunately this allows it to continue.
So good for you for reporting this behaviour, it is now on record even though the master and employer did nothing.
It will be easier for the next women who has to deal with him.
It makes a difference if you are in a Union or non Union environment.
A union should help represent you.
Someone already mention sexual harasment is protected. I don’t know US law. Canadian law Human rights is covered by federal legislation and provincial legislation.
Specifically the human rights act.
In Canada Complaints which are a violation of the human rights act, can be taken outside of the contract and union grievance process without affecting or voiding the grievance process.
A complaint can be made to the human rights commission and they will fund the legal process to pursue a resolve through the court system.
I would be surprised if the US does not have a similar body which will help investigate human rights issues.
As a cadet I would also recommend you file a complaint about the treatment you received to your school.
The school should contact the company.
Hopefully you will find better treatment and support in future voyages with other companies.
I can get better. I have seen many important changes over many years, Fortunately my employer takes it seriously. even so I am still surprised how often this comes up.
1 Like
Any Captain/Officer in this day and time with all the attention on this problem should have the professional behavior to handle this from the start. There are many waiting for that position,and perhaps could do it better.
1 Like
I am not saying that I would not nip this behavior in the bud on my own, but you best believe that the office would be aware of it as soon as I was. My SMS states that once an accusation of harassment is made, management will be notified and a full investigation will be initiated. HR and the lawyers ashore are going to have to be in the loop for something like this.
3 Likes
Sorry, when I say “handled aboard” I meant to get the ball rolling with the paperwork, enquiry & disciplinary action. If the Master or Chief Engineer replies, “This is the first I heard about it.” when they get a call from shore then the harassment should probably be investigated as much as a sheen coming from the overboard discharge pipe. The senior officers weren’t doing their jobs & are responsible as well IMO.
2 Likes
From reading this post, I deduce that this happened on a Jones Act tanker. 3Mx2 and all. First thing is none of this is your fault BUT it seems like you’re acting like a cadet instead of an officer. Going ashore for fun on a Jones Act tanker isn’t a thing as a deck officer.
Also it does sound like you were too close with the Bosun/ABs. I believe that you confided things in the Bosun/ABs, and that was a mistake. I was a cadet a couple of years ago. Talking to the unlicensed sometimes felt like a judgment free zone compared with the officers who are constantly evaluating you.
I wasn’t close with the bosun on my first cadet ship, tried my best to stay away from him. But he constantly made fun of me, called me ugly, homosexual, etc even as a straight male. I didn’t dwell on it, and realized that his opinion didn’t matter. I got off that ship with a much thicker skin.
It was a Jones Act ship. Going ashore seemed to be a common thing to do on this ship. I never confided in the unlicensed crew. I know there has to be a separation to some degree to maintain a leadership position. At the end of the day, it should not matter the thickness of someone’s skin, people should not be degraded in their workplace-especially one where you live, too.
3 Likes
I don’t see what Jones Act tanker has to to do with anything. My old (container) ship took the CM off watch and added a 3M due to STCW limits. Cadets act like cadets because that is what they are. There is nothing wrong with them going ashore if they are off duty and have time. Fortunately in my world the crew was not restricted to the ship. I always tried to get ashore for dinner when in port. Why should they be any different?
3 Likes
Cargo ops and the responsibility/workload of the deck officer on a Jones Act tanker is probably a lot higher than on a containership. Not sure, I’ve only sailed tankers. But that’s what most tanker guys say out here. Cadets on a Jones Act tanker should act like they want to be an officer, because that 90 days or whatever determines whether you get the job post grad or not. As a tanker mate, we run shorter hitches (40-60 days) and I don’t step off the ship or pier until my relief is up the gangway.
1 Like
I think the bull shit is starting to run deep. I need to get my boots on.
4 Likes
Yeah seriously. Whatever ship or run it is. No one needs to feel uncomfortable because what they are wearing going ashore or dropping their laundry in the dryer, if we are really discussing hypotheticals. Be who you are, just like everyone else in the modern world.
5 Likes
2 suggestions to reduce sexual harassment on board.
-
Have every crewmember sign a legal document with the Master & another officer privately stating the crewmember hasn’t or has experienced harassment while on board. We do it for injuries, why not for harassment? Do it at the middle & at the end of their time on board. If the Master is going to officially put their neck & signature on the line he will be more likely to get rid of trouble makers. Also, keep the complaints as confidential as possible.
-
Treat sexual harassment training as serious as a heart attack. As serious as the TSA asking about bombs in your bag at the airport. If you joke about a bomb you will miss your flight & might go to jail. Make joking about sexual harassment that serious all the time. The CM or who ever conducts a sexual harassment training or meeting should start the meeting stating that any jokes or inappropriate comments during the meeting will be considered sexual harassment & the jokester will be written up. SIDENOTE: Ladies, sometimes during annual sexual harassment training/meetings some guys take it light-heartedly if no females are on the ship. “What’s the point of the training if there’s no females on board, right?” Nope. But during the annual race relation training/meeting no one makes lighthearted racial jokes if no black guys are on board because everyone knows inappropriate racial comments are never acceptable. We should make inappropriate sexual comments as serious as bombs in airports & racial jokes.
3 Likes
Hahahaha… Man you need to shop around. I know the junior mates (not C/M) are the biggest liberty hounds onboard my tanker… Leaving a vapor trail down the pier once that gangway is down.
Thx for clearing that up…
Depends on what the cadet’s long term plans are.
On tankers, a lot of the mates are not union so this:
Is very true. All it takes is one passing comment like “yeah (s)he was ok but was always going ashore” and that’s it for the job prospects.
2 Likes
Lol. Yeh. Don’t go ashore on your off watch. Stay in your cabin like a good little slave. Hope no one thinks you might ever go ashore. Fuck, y’all’s ships suck.
To the OP, I’m sorry you experienced harassment and I hope the asshole gets what’s coming to him one day. In the future, contact the DPA and in no uncertain terms lay out that you’ve been harassed and are lodging a formal complaint with him/her. That should light a fire real quick.
7 Likes
Hey OP. It happens all the time. We get a female cadet/crew member and some moron or multiple morons on the crew think she’s gonna want them. Some females reciprocate, most do not. I was Navy prior to civilian sector so i’ve seen it a lot. Keep sailing! Don’t go research. The next ship you go to put it out there that your not interested or take the easy way out and say you in a relationship or gay. Also, get a small recording device that no one knows about in the event some idiot can’t take the hint.
2 Likes
#tankerlife
Honestly, even as a dayworker, I don’t go ashore anymore. Get off at 1930, gotta start work again at 0600, very strict enforcement of the no drinking policy (0.04 BAC limit), a big PITA to get outside the terminal in a lot of places… it’s like, what’s the point?
That’s just personal though…I don’t try to explicitly or implicitly enforce that on the people working for me.
Gotta love Oakley back at it again, telling people how to live their lives. Cadets ARE Cadets, how would you expect them to act? I know you were the greatest Midshipman of all time and they’re building a statue for you and all, but you can’t expect a cadet to “act like an officer” having never sailed as an officer.
Regardless, the people on this thread saying “frankly, the attitude just isn’t going to change” (Or something along those lines) I think are a little pessimistic. I’m a young mate, my girlfriend is a young engineer. We’ve both seen or experienced forms of sexual harassment and it’s always the same type of people; older, saltier, more experienced sailors who think they’re untouchable. The ones who usually sympathize/support with the harassed are the younger crew, both officer and unlicensed alike. And the ones who want no part of the investigation are the senior officers. In my opinion it’s mostly an age/generational thing. The older guys/girls for some reason thinks it’s like part of being a salty sailor or they are just legit clueless as to how to behave in front of other people. I think as the older generation retires and the younger more “woke” generation, if you will, take over the industry things will change. However if we (meaning the younger sailors out there) do not nip this in the bud NOW then it’s bound to continue.
I think the academies (at least mine) do a decent job of setting a standard for what is not acceptable when it comes to sexual harassment.
I also think the OP deserves a lot of credit for following through with the company as a Cadet. Usually Cadets feel like they can’t report things because they think it will affect their job prospects or that they’ll form a reputation, however in the eyes of a company I believe this is a good trait to have. No one is above or below the standards, from Captain down to Cadet. So props to you, shipmate. Without people like you putting crews on notice for bs like this it would continue on forever. At least now that Bosun has a record of a harassment allegation so that if it happens again he’s toast, or maybe it opened his eyes to not be a creepy bastard.
1 Like