The ship captain is accused of raping one of the students

Investigating sexual misconduct allegations against a US Merchant Mariner onboard a cargo ship in the early 2021s. CNN notified Merrone that he could not work at sea

A cargo ship was sailing across the Atlantic Ocean when the captain summoned two young US Merchant Marine Academy cadets to his room and gave them each a drink.

The Coast Guard is responsible for investigating reports of misconduct aboard vessels and can seek to discipline mariners and remove the credential they need to work on ships for a number of violations — from drug and alcohol use to assault. But agency records show that attempted actions against mariner’s credentials for sexual misconduct are rare and slow to occur.

CNN obtained a complaint that claims that the merchant mariner credentials of Captain John Merrone should be revoked so that he can’t work at sea.

The Coast Guard said in a statement that it initiated its recent investigation as soon as it learned of the cadets’ allegations in 2021. The Department of Justice does not plan to prosecute the investigations that were conducted by the agency’s criminal investigations arm. The DOJ wouldn’t comment.

Some assaults were committed by fellow students. Two students, who were identified by their alleged victims, were disenrolled by the academy.

According to the US Merchant Marine Academy, Merrone’s two alleged victims were students there.

Operators will have to meet a number of safety standards if they are going to carry students during the sea training program. Crew members and cadets are prohibited from entering each other’s rooms, for example, and operators must immediately report any incidents of sexual misconduct to the school if the ship is carrying an academy student, whether or not the student was involved. The new policy states that victims, bystanders and witnesses will not get in trouble if alcohol or drug use policies were violated at or near the time of an alleged assault.

CNN Investigates Student Sexual Abuse During the 2018-2019 Academic Year: A Case Study of a Naval Officer at the US Merchant Marine Academy

CNN does not include the company name, dates of the incident, or other details in the complaint that may inadvertently identify the alleged victims.

Merrone has been accused of rape before. Back in 2011, a woman arrived at a hospital bruised and beaten, saying he raped her in his apartment in the Florida Keys, according to criminal court records that included testimony from the nurse who examined her. Merrone was promptly arrested and sentenced by a jury to two years in prison for false imprisonment and battery, but his conviction was later overturned in appeals court. The Coast Guard told CNN it was unaware of the conviction until it had already been overturned two years later, so no action was taken against his credential.

The students at the US Merchant Marine Academy say they were victims of sexual assault, but they don’t want to go to the police in a way that would prompt an investigation.

Students were much more likely to file “unrestricted reports” about these kinds of incidents, which typically prompt investigations by the academy, shipping companies or other authorities – but don’t necessarily make it to law enforcement.

The findings support a CNN investigation last year, which revealed that sexual misconduct was widespread but that students feared coming forward would jeopardize their educations and careers.

There is still a culture of fear surrounding victims, according to Hicks. It is not enough for the victim to feel comfortable coming forward before they see a conviction for their actions.

Hicks herself is absent from the school’s figures since she never felt comfortable reporting to academy officials, though she eventually went to the Coast Guard with her allegations.

So far this school year — between July and December — five students have already reported sexual assaults, compared to six during the entire 2021-2022 school year.

When it comes to on-campus misconduct, the academy said in the report that it has been attempting to strengthen its sexual assault prevention program and to better communicate its policies.

What do you think about the US Merchant Marine Academy? Email me at [email protected] if you know something about the maritime industry or the marine industry?

Are you aware of something about the US Merchant Marine Academy or the maritime industry? Email us at [email protected].