To ensure that Midshipmen training on commercial vessels is conducted in a safe and respectful environment, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) formed a Shipboard Climate Compliance Team (SCCT) to work with industry partners in establishing stringent new requirements for companies providing Sea Year training opportunities for Midshipmen. These requirements include zero tolerance for Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment (SASH), vetted mentors, regular crew training, and no fraternization between crew and Midshipmen. The criteria will be reviewed after six months, and annually thereafter. A full list is provided below.

 Annual Company-Wide Zero Tolerance Message

Shipping company CEOs will issue an annual company-wide message outlining specific rules for the workplace, strongly stating that Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment and retaliation based on a SASH complaint is unacceptable, and committing the company to working to eradicate it.

 Annual SASH Prevention Training Requirement for Crew

The annual SASH prevention training will ensure that crewmembers clearly understand what constitutes sexual assault and sexual harassment, its negative impact, the importance of prevention, and the severe penalties for engaging in prohibited behavior or for failing to report an incident. All crewmembers will clearly understand their responsibility as supervisors, employees, witnesses, and bystanders. Crewmembers must complete this training prior to Midshipmen arrival on board, or within 72 hours of signing-on, if a Midshipmen is already onboard the vessel.

 Mentors with Enhanced Selection Criteria and Duties

The mentors for each ship play a crucial role in the success and development of cadets. Enhanced Mentor Qualifications include mentors have no pending complaints or history of violations of the company’s Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment policy, anti-discrimination policy; mentor must certify that he/she does not have any pending complaints or history of violations of any other company’s Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment policies; and mentor is of good character, and knows, supports, and advocates the company’s Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment policies. Mentors will help the Midshipmen understand shipboard policies and procedures established by the company, and their roles and responsibilities aboard the ship; serve as a resource for the Midshipmen while onboard; be readily available to the Midshipmen, and also seek to understand each individual’s concerns about their vessel assignment; guide the Midshipmen in understanding shipboard protocol, SASH policies, and expected code of conduct; support the Midshipmen once they join the ship and help them transition from their academic learning environment to the professional shipboard setting; encourage the development of a well-rounded mariner; refer Midshipmen to other resources as needed, such as other crewmembers aboard the vessel, Company employees, or Academy personnel; and participate in prescribed SASH and anti-discrimination training and serve as a reporting mechanism for SASH complaints.

Verify Annual SASH Prevention Training Each company will provide MARAD documents describing company-specific training protocol; the company’s anti-discrimination, harassment, retaliation and SASH policies, including complaint reporting policies and procedures; a description of the company’s investigation process and enforcement procedures and a mechanism for verifying understanding of the issue.

Zero-Tolerance Policy Regarding Romantic or Sexual Relationships

Companies will actively support the USMMA Sea Year Conduct policy for Midshipmen, which prohibits romantic or sexual relationships between Midshipmen and crewmembers, and the consumption of alcohol by Midshipmen under 21 year old.   Companies will immediately report known Midshipmen violations to USMMA.

MARAD Will Maintain a Record of all Relevant Company Policies

Companies will submit all relevant policies, and documentation to MARAD, which will verify compliance annually. Required documentation includes, but is not limited to SASH prevention policies, description of company’s complaint reporting process and procedures, policies related to confidentiality, enforcement policies, investigation procedures; and location of SASH prevention policies onboard the vessel.

Company Debrief

In addition to the currently required report from Midshipmen and evaluation of the Midshipmen by the Vessel Master, the company will also provide the USMMA a Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment debrief at the completion of the Midshipmen’s Sea Year time onboard the vessel. The debrief provides the company an opportunity to specifically addresses SASH issues and note any concern or need for improvements.