DENMARK's maersk subsidiary, US-flagged Maersk Line Limited (MLL), has settled with Hope Hicks, the former US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) student at the centre of 'Midshipman X' scandal.
This resolved the civil litigation over her sexual assault and harassment aboard one of their vessels in 2019, reported Ventura, California's gCaptain. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.
'It is important to me that my case has brought greater awareness of the issue of sexual assault and harassment at sea,' said Ms Hicks. 'The leadership of MLL has expressed the need for change. The changes that MLL has proposed are an important first step, but there is still a lot of work to be done in the maritime industry.'
Ms Hicks filed the lawsuit in New York Supreme Court in June for sexual assault and harassment during her cadet Sea Year training aboard the US-flagged MLL vessel Alliance Fairfax.
She said she was raped by a superior officer while serving as an engine cadet aboard a Maersk cargo ship during her Sea Year. She became known in the industry as 'Midshipman-X' before her identity was eventually revealed through the lawsuit.
Her story prompted others to come forward with their own stories of sexual assault and harassment at sea and led to major changes to the Sea Year programme and at the federal service academy.
Ms Hicks alleged that Maersk failed to adequately protect USMMA (US Merchant Marine Academy) midshipmen from sexual assault and sexual harassment.
A second complaint, filed on behalf of another USMMA student, alleged that the claimant experienced extreme sexual harassment, unwanted touching and discrimination while on board the same Maersk vessel two years later.
SeaNews Turkey
This resolved the civil litigation over her sexual assault and harassment aboard one of their vessels in 2019, reported Ventura, California's gCaptain. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.
'It is important to me that my case has brought greater awareness of the issue of sexual assault and harassment at sea,' said Ms Hicks. 'The leadership of MLL has expressed the need for change. The changes that MLL has proposed are an important first step, but there is still a lot of work to be done in the maritime industry.'
Ms Hicks filed the lawsuit in New York Supreme Court in June for sexual assault and harassment during her cadet Sea Year training aboard the US-flagged MLL vessel Alliance Fairfax.
She said she was raped by a superior officer while serving as an engine cadet aboard a Maersk cargo ship during her Sea Year. She became known in the industry as 'Midshipman-X' before her identity was eventually revealed through the lawsuit.
Her story prompted others to come forward with their own stories of sexual assault and harassment at sea and led to major changes to the Sea Year programme and at the federal service academy.
Ms Hicks alleged that Maersk failed to adequately protect USMMA (US Merchant Marine Academy) midshipmen from sexual assault and sexual harassment.
A second complaint, filed on behalf of another USMMA student, alleged that the claimant experienced extreme sexual harassment, unwanted touching and discrimination while on board the same Maersk vessel two years later.
SeaNews Turkey