SOCP Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Prevention
The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has developed tools for the prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment affecting the shipboard climate in the U.S. maritime industry.
Best Practices Guide
Best Practices Guide (BPG) on prevention of sexual assault, sexual harassment, retaliation, bystander intervention, bullying, hazing, coercion, stalking, and other prohibited behaviors in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This BPG is designed to identify and share the best practices used by maritime companies of all sizes to implement prevention-and-response policies for such prohibited behaviors in the workplace. SOCP developed the BPG under a cooperative agreement with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to address issues affecting the shipboard climate in the U.S. maritime industry.
The BPG contains two separate sections for reference and guidance for the Employee and the Company. The Employee section is designed to provide U.S. merchant mariners and shore-based personnel with meeting their responsibility to be respectful and actively participate in a work environment free of sexual assault, sexual harassment and other prohibited behaviors. The Company section provides six best practices which should be part of every company’s policy on such behaviors in the workplace, whether onshore or at sea. Existing best practices, policies and procedures are emphasized within each section, with examples in the Annexes.
Computer Based Training
Computer based training (CBT) on prevention and response to sexual assault, sexual harassment, retaliation, bullying, and other prohibited behaviors in the U.S. maritime industry. The interactive CBT on “Maritime Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) Prevention” will help mariners and shore based personnel better identify and prevent such behaviors as well as assist industry efforts to aggressively promote a culture of zero tolerance for such behavior. The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) developed the CBT under a cooperative agreement with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to address issues affecting shipboard climate in the U.S. Merchant Marine. MYMIC, an eLearning training products developer, provided technical support and expertise.
The CBT will assist vessel owners and operators, maritime academies, maritime training institutions, maritime unions, and other maritime organizations in providing cost-effective annual training on these issues to U.S. mariners and shore based personnel in all segments of the U.S. maritime industry - ocean, coastwise, Great Lakes, inland, harbor, towing, offshore, cruise, ferries, dredging, research vessels, government owned, etc.
SASH Prevention Tool Kit
The “Tool Kit,” contains 4 quick reference guide brochures targeted to support the Company, Master, Shoreside Personnel, and Victims. Zero tolerance techniques and tips for prevention of and response to SASH behaviors are provided as appropriate for the different intended audiences. There are also 17 downloadable SASH Prevention posters, which include some of the following themes: All Reports Investigated, Responsibility, Safety on Shore Leave, Zero Tolerance Culture, Negative Effects, and more. SOCP encourages companies to post these onboard their vessels as well as in shoreside facilities.