The Safer Seas Act, passed in December 2022, addresses the need to reduce incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment on vessels. Many companies and vessels, including the U.S. Coast Guard, are now implementing safety requirements. These include recent updates requiring surveillance equipment on certain vessels.
Sexual Assaults and Harassment on Maritime Vessels
Violence, assaults, and sexual harassment on boats and ships is an ongoing issue for maritime safety. Women are the primary victims in these incidents. International surveys indicate that 25% of women working on maritime vessels have experienced some type of sexual assault. This doesn’t account for victims who never report incidents.
Many in the industry are working to change the culture, beginning with training in maritime academies. Some companies are also committed to hiring more women. Still, the issue persists, putting workers at risk.
SASH and the Safer Seas Act
Enacted as part of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the Safer Seas Act is supposed to reduce sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) in the maritime industry. This came in the wake of a scandal known as the Midshipman-X case. A woman published an account of the sexual harassment and abuse she experienced while on the Sea Year program for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Later identified as Hope Hicks, Midshipman-X opened the flood gates. Her accounts helped spur the passing of the Safer Seas Act. The law introduced many new requirements, mostly for ship owners and operators, including procedural changes and reporting mandates as well as training requirements for personnel.
The law also gives the Coast Guard more authority in SASH cases. It can suspend or revoke the credentials of people guilty of SASH offenses.
New Surveillance Requirements
One of the requirements of the Safer Seas Act is the use of surveillance equipment to monitor activity on vessels. In 2024, the Coast Guard published updated guidance on how this part of the law was to be implemented:
- Video and audio surveillance must be continuous.
- Vessels are only required to retain recordings that capture human sounds and movements.
- The quality of the recording equipment must be adequate to be able to identify any person recorded, even in ambient light, and to be able to hear and understand conversations.
- Equipment must be installed with possible obstructions in mind.
These new guidelines should help employers, vessel owners, and operators comply with the Safer Seas Act and keep their crew members safe.
Many companies are now installing this equipment. The goal is that it will deter inappropriate and criminal behavior. There should also be added safety benefits. The additional visibility on board ships will hopefully help with routine maintenance, security operations, and accident investigations, improving overall maritime safety.
Sexual assault and harassment are real threats on maritime vessels and in the industry at large. Maritime worker rights include a reasonably safe workplace, and the Safer Seas Act and its required surveillance equipment is a big step toward that ideal.