Maersk suspends five crew members as it investigates alleged sexual assault

Transport containers are transported on a Maersk Line vessel by means of the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt July 7, 2021. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
COPENHAGEN, Oct 12 (Reuters – The world’s largest transport agency A.P. Moller-Maersk has suspended 5 workers as a part of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault on one among its ships run by a U.S. subsidiary, and mentioned it was working carefully with American authorities.
“We do every little thing we will to make sure that all of our office environments, together with vessels, are a protected and welcoming office and we have launched a prime to backside investigation,” mentioned chief government officer Invoice Woodhour of Maersk Line, Restricted in an emailed assertion.
Maersk Line, Restricted (MLL) is a U.S.-based subsidiary of the A.P. Moller-Maersk group working with the U.S. authorities to help navy, authorities and humanitarian missions, it mentioned on its webpage.
As a part of the investigation, 5 crew members have been suspended pending the end result of the investigation, MLL mentioned within the assertion.
The agency mentioned it was working with labour unions, the U.S. Service provider Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Level, the U.S. Maritime Administration, the U.S. Division of Transportation and the U.S. Coast Guard.
“We write in the present day to precise our unwavering help for the person who has shared her story of a sexual assault that befell throughout Sea 12 months,” mentioned Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary on the U.S. Division of Transportation, and Lucinda Lessley, Performing Administrator of the Maritime Administration, in a letter to the Kings Level group dated Oct. 2.
“Sea 12 months” is a programme run by the academy the place cadets acquire experience on ships, and Maersk Line, Restricted participates on this programme, the place it has skilled 732 cadets since 2017.
A spokesperson with the U.S. Division of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), mentioned it was conscious of the alleged incident, including that the U.S. Service provider Marine Academy (USMMA) Superintendent had referred it to the Coast Guard Investigative Service on Sept. 28.
“We now have zero tolerance for sexual assault and sexual harassment at USMMA and within the maritime trade,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“As we decide the suitable steps required to extend and make sure the security of USMMA college students, we pledge to hearken to and work carefully with all the USMMA group together with college students, dad and mom and alumni.”
Reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, Jonathan Saul in London and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Enhancing by Mike Collett-White
: