The findings of a focused survey of UK seafarers providing insights into the experiences of individuals relating to sexual offences at sea has been published. This small-scale study, a collaboration between Safer Waves, Devon & Cornwall Police and researchers based at the University of Winchester, offers a valuable perspective on a critical issue within the maritime industry.

The survey findings, provided by 276 participating UK seafarers, indicated that 80% reported either witnessing or being a victim of at least one sexual offence during the past 5 years, with most experiencing sexual harassment and/or gender discrimination. The report also highlights challenges in the reporting process: only 62.7% of those who were witness to or were the victim of an offence reported it, and of those, less than 33% found the outcome of their reporting to be satisfactory.

While this was a small sample size survey, from which the findings cannot be assumed to be fully representative of all UK seafarers, the experiences shared by respondents does highlight the importance of both addressing sexual offences and improving reporting mechanisms within the maritime sector.

The full report is now available below, offering a detailed account of the survey’s findings.