Psychological Safety, Bullying, Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector

The adverse impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced and magnified issues of sexual assault and harassment (SASH) with consequences on seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing which in turn negatively affects recruitment and attrition rates of seafarers. The Center for Ocean Policy & Economics (COPE) hosted by the Northeast Maritime Institute’s College of Maritime Science, which was established to tackle wicked problems in the maritime and ocean related fields, established a working group to aid the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amend and develop training for SASH in IMO Model Course 1.21 Personnel Safety and Social Responsibilities. The working group facilitates global participation through digital accessibility to ensure diverse viewpoints on SASH in the maritime sector.