CHIRP Maritime draws lessons from a report of a crew member dealing with a captain’s persistent personal advances, harassment and inappropriate behavior.
The reporter told CHIRP they were in an uncomfortable situation on board while working on a temporary contract: “Our captain has acted unprofessionally, creating a hostile work environment that makes it hard for me to do my job. This is my first role in the industry, so I reached out to a colleague, who confirmed that the captain’s behavior was not normal or professional.
The captain constantly sought me out, especially during my night shifts, to discuss personal matters, which made me feel uneasy. He stayed awake to talk even though it was not his usual habit, and it disrupted my focus.
One incident really stood out: we had an hour to go ashore, and the captain insisted on joining me. Another crew member noticed my discomfort and assured me that others found his behavior inappropriate, too. During this outing, he kept asking me to join him at a restaurant, despite my refusals. When I reminded him that I was there to work, he pushed back, asserting his authority as captain to justify taking more time. I had to set boundaries repeatedly, but he ignored them.
Back on the vessel, the night shift issues continued—he’d stay up, offer to do my tasks, and try to start personal conversations. I had to find another area to work, but he followed me, persisting with the interactions. At one point, he presented a new seasonal contract, despite my earlier refusal, and seemed upset when I declined again.
The situation escalated during another night shift. After promising to drop the subject, he returned from bed shortly after to try discussing personal matters again, disregarding my request to keep things professional. I was so uncomfortable that a crew member offered to stay with me so I wouldn’t be alone with him.
Later, at a crew gathering, he followed me back to the boat and tried engaging in more personal talk. I eventually began recording the conversation to document his behaviour. When he wouldn’t stop, I called a friend, then another crew member, to avoid being alone with him. The tension culminated in him making a derogatory remark before finally leaving.
This morning, the captain created a group chat and called for a meeting today. He also sent me contract termination rules, saying I need to give seven days’ notice. Right now, I’m in my cabin, unsure how to proceed. I feel very uncomfortable here and cannot continue in this environment.
While I am unharmed, I am deeply upset that this situation has disrupted my work, my contract, and my learning experience. I’ve stayed professional, but I’m at a loss on how to handle this. Any advice on how to proceed today would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.”
CHIRP Comment
No crew member should endure this harassment. Companies employing masters must provide firm guidance that any form of harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Such guidance should apply to all superyacht crew and contractors.
CHIRP understands that the master was dismissed by the company, but nothing prevents them from being rehired by another company. The reporter has also left this company and found safer and more rewarding work elsewhere.
Lessons learned
Culture- Unbeknownst to the company, the master used their position of authority to behave unacceptably. A safety culture cannot exist if people feel unsafe.
Communications: The crew rallied around the reporter to shield and protect them. Reporting your concerns is one of the most powerful tools you have—do not suffer in silence.
Alerting: Many organisations in the maritime domain are very willing to assist anyone going through such harassment, including CHIRP Maritime, which will escalate the matter to the DPA and Flag State if the company cannot resolve it. You are not alone. Please spread the word.
If you are facing harassment or discrimination on board, here are some practical steps that you can take:
- If you feel safe doing so, tell someone or contact one of the organisations below.
- Keep a record. This will be useful evidence if you decide to make a formal complaint or report.
