IUMI: Marine insurers must play a role in eradicating sexual misconduct at sea
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Marine insurers must take an active role in eradicating sexual misconduct at sea, delegates at the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) annual conference in Singapore heard today. Moderating the Legal & Liability Workshop, Charles Fernandez <\/a>of Canopius Insurance, chair of the IUMI Legal & Liability Committee, called on the marine insurance sector to recognize its responsibility in combating this serious issue.<\/p>\n Women represent just 1% of the global seafaring workforce but a shocking 25% of women in maritime report having experienced physical or sexual assault.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, almost all women in maritime have experienced some form of sexual misconduct at sea, ranging from unconscious bias to full-scale assault,\u201d said Fernandez. \u201cSexual misconduct in any form is completely unacceptable and must be stopped. Our workshop highlighted a number of recent cases and served to bring this appalling practice to the consciousness of the marine insurance community.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernandez emphasised that while marine insurers are not directly involved in vessel operations, they are a crucial part of the maritime supply chain and must use their influence to raise awareness and drive change.<\/p>\n \u201cMarine insurers have a responsibility to do all they can to raise awareness of sexual misconduct at sea and to join the effort to eradicate it completely,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n The workshop heard that many offenses go unreported. Some women fear damage to their reputation, career progression, or simply believe their claims would not be taken seriously.<\/p>\n Further complicating the issue is the fragmented legal landscape. In some cases, the law applied depends on the flag state of the vessel. In others, jurisdiction falls to the country or location where the harm was suffered. This inconsistency can make pursuing justice complex and intimidating for victims.<\/p>\n In most cases of sexual misconduct, shipowners could be held directly liable \u2013 particularly if there is evidence they were aware of a perpetrator\u2019s previous history. Shipowners have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment.<\/p>\n Several high-profile cases <\/a>have recently come to light where victims have secured successful outcomes, resulting in significant compensation claims paid by liability insurers.<\/p>\n \u201cJoining with others to prevent sexual misconduct at sea is not just the right thing to do, it is also a risk mitigation strategy,\u201d Fernandez explained. \u201cA number of recent cases have resulted, quite rightly, in large payouts for victims with claims being paid by insurers. As marine underwriters, we must be aware of the issue and do what we can to ensure our assureds are implementing effective safeguards and strategies to eradicate all forms of sexual misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n The post IUMI: Marine insurers must play a role in eradicating sexual misconduct at sea<\/a> appeared first on Marine Log<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n