Psychological Safety, Bullying, Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector ^†

Abstract

The adverse impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced and magnified issues of sexual assault and harassment (SASH) with consequences on seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing which in turn negatively affects recruitment and attrition rates of seafarers. The Center for Ocean Policy & Economics (COPE) hosted by the Northeast Maritime Institute’s College of Maritime Science, which was established to tackle wicked problems in the maritime and ocean related fields, established a working group to aid the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amend and develop training for SASH in IMO Model Course 1.21 Personnel Safety and Social Responsibilities. The working group facilitates global participation through digital accessibility to ensure diverse viewpoints on SASH in the maritime sector.

1. Introduction

The ongoing adverse impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced and magnified issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH), with ill effects on seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing, which in turn negatively affects recruitment and attrition rates of seafarers globally.

A COPE Working group on Psychological Safety, bullying and SASH in the Maritime Sector, hosted by the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics, a subset of The Northeast Maritime Institute—College of Maritime Science, is driven by ethical and humanitarian-based values, and works on building on a psychologically safe workplace culture in the maritime sector.

The aim of the group is to address the psychological welfare and safety of today’s mariners in support of the successful integration of vulnerable and marginalized groups, and in support of diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and acceptance. The group develops and delivers relevant actions and impactful solutions to the issues of SASH, using the UN framework to perform the work and connect the industry to objectives.

The scope of work of the working group includes the following actions:

• Review and amend existing IMO model course 1.21 on Personal Safety and Social Responsibility to include elements of psychological safety and dealing with trauma and trauma response;
• Provide training options, turning guidelines into education;
• Harmonize best practices and guidance documents;
• Provide awareness and response;
• Investigate a uniform mechanism for reporting incidents including assault, harassment, and bullying;
• Focus on the responsibility of companies, governments, and authorities, including the ISM Code;
• Obtain classification societies’ approvals and meeting ISO standards.

2. Material and Methods

A total of 42 maritime experts from across the world actively participate in the working group. Members include IMO Delegations from the Bahamas, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the USA and Dominica. Representatives from NGOs include ITF, ISWAN, IMHA and WISTA. Academic Institutions from Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands and the USA are represented. Additionally, maritime ‘Subject Matter Experts’ with experience in the merchant marine, offshore, navy, psychology, trauma, maritime safety, diversity, security, economics, seafaring, digital technology, education and other expertise complete the group.

The working group is currently having remote meetings every two weeks from December 2021. Participants provided comments and proposed edits to the IMO Model Course on PSSR, using a Delphi panel method. Discussions and multiple rounds of reviews on the Model Course took place in order to reach an agreement on the topics to update the relevant knowledge and skills for seafarers.

Based on the proposal of the working group, the International Maritime Organization, on the 105th session of its Maritime Safety Committee, instructed the Sub-Committee on Human Element Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) to develop and finalize, as a matter of priority, STCW training provisions addressing bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment. The draft revised IMO Model Course 1.21 on Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, will be provided to HTW for validation in January 2023 for adoption by the Maritime Safety Committee in April 2023.

3. Results

It is anticipated that the current work will promote dialogue within the maritime sector, and will deliver impactful solutions and products which will benefit mariners and, consequently, the maritime industry as a whole.

4. Discussion and Conclusions

The improvement of seafarers’ psychological safety, mental health and physical well-being will consequently improve onboard operational maritime safety and security while supporting diversity, equality, equity, and inclusiveness.

Current mandates of UN organizations do not go beyond urging member states to follow UN Resolutions. A holistic approach is needed to ensure that all parties within the maritime industry take action, further pushing UN objective, furthering the mandate of the International Maritime Organization. COPE is able to facilitate opportunities for change and drive ocean policy and economic development project initiatives to create impactful solutions.