Meeting Minutes: COPE° Working group on Psychological Safety and Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector

TUES, DECEMBER 6, 2022 | 7:00 AM EST

Events

1) Welcome and Introduction

Proposed new members.

There were no objections to the submission of these new members, therefore everyone is very much welcomed to participate and to become a member of the COPE° working group.

Welcome new members.

2) Activities and Scope of Work

a) Sub-Group on Review and amend existing IMO Model Course 1.21 PSSR

Status on the work regarding the PSSR Model Course and STCW review:

  1. Our document was submitted for HTW9 with proposed amendments on requirements for KUPs for STCW Convention and Code, Chapter A-VI Table1-4.
  2. We gathered a total of 14 Co-Sponsors of the document: Dominica, Bahamas, Brazil, Kenya, Abuja MoU, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, Viet Nam, IFSMA, IMHA, InterManager, OCIMF and WISTA.
  3. Will prepare the plenary introduction accordingly.
  4. Any information about a side event at HTW9 about this topic?

Final draft document is shared together with these meeting notes in email.

b) Evaluate and provide training options

Our document with proposed amendments on Model Course 1.21 on PSSR can be used as a basis for further work, develop training material. Which will be freely available for all. We can start building curriculum on NEMO° PSSR Course.

Goal to focus on psychological safety, bullying and SASH build course around these subjects, (use additional time suggested). Important to get it out and get it going.

  1. Formulate outcomes and objectives. Material and documents to formulate. Re-write.
  2. Set up and share the NEMO° course template.
  3. Build the course and work collectively.
  4. Test course with students, provide it on NEMO°.

We will move this work into a new sub-group.
Everyone who is willing to contribute or participate in this work is kindly invited.

Discussions: We need to look into continuous feedback mechanisms on IMO Model Courses, curriculum, etc. Standing curriculum needs a review body to keep monitoring.
Keep an eye on global/national issues relating to education and what people need in education, noting the (cultural) differences. Need for empowerment of MET teachers and developers.

c) Harmonizing best practices and guidance documents, industry resources and studies

The sub-group on ‘Data Collection, Output and Harmonization’ had a meeting on Monday 31 October at 11.00 UTC.

  • We need to set up new Terms of reference for this sub-group.
  • Goal is to create a data consortium, hosted by COPE°, make the data actionable. Create solutions. Data repositories. Create more transparency. Focus in dialogue, sharing ideas and views, making data/resources available for people to take things forward.
  • Some of the fieldwork that is needed to support and help people, might be handled by mental health professionals.
  • COPE° reporting button on the website, share resources and guidance’s on the website.
  • How would we like to see data shared: thoughts?

d) Awareness and response

Building awareness and implementing change in the maritime industry in all areas surrounding psychological and physical safety in the maritime sector.
The sub-group on ‘Reporting mechanisms and accountability’ had a meeting on Tuesday 1 November at 11.00 UTC.

We need to address the following subjects: Regulation, Reporting, Investigation, Accountability:
• Implementation of Regulation
• Create a regulatory scheme that requires confidentiality
• Implementation of a Reporting Process
o Ensure that maritime administrations can receive information
• Implementation of Investigatory Process
o Ensure there is an appropriate body of individuals to lead the investigation
• Creation of Platform for Accountability
o Ensure there is a judicial platform to maintain accountability

Importance of data: There is much data that already exists (i.e. academic institutions, research organizations, etc.), and there should be an effort to utilize that data. The more data that can be accessed, the more accurately and efficiently regulations can be created and implemented. it is important to recognize that we cannot wait around for more data. We must proceed with the data we have and continue to collect more as time goes on.
• Include information about the joint IMO/ILO working group, port-based welfare committees, IHMA forum, ICMA or other organizations and might have information.
• Where should we collect data from? How do we involve all stakeholders? How to we establish guidelines for the creation of investigatory bodies that are appropriate, efficient and fair?
o Proposal from Saudi Arabia to work on a proposal/request for IMO statistics – Investigate if it is possible to gain IMO statistics on incidents for sexual harassment/bullying etc if recorded. Potential to reach out to countries through IMO. Requires additional planning.
o ITF may have statistics/data as well. Global Maritime Forum collect data from shipmanagers to share data.

e) Reporting mechanisms and accountability

Building awareness and implementing change in the maritime industry in all areas surrounding psychological and physical safety in the maritime sector.

The sub-group on ‘Reporting mechanisms and accountability’ had a meeting on Tuesday 1 November at 11.00 UTC.

We need to address the following subjects: Regulation, Reporting, Investigation, Accountability:

  • Implementation of Regulation
  • Create a regulatory scheme that requires confidentiality
  • Implementation of a Reporting Process
    • Ensure that maritime administrations can receive information
  • Implementation of Investigatory Process
    • Ensure there is an appropriate body of individuals to lead the investigation
  • Creation of Platform for Accountability
    • Ensure there is a judicial platform to maintain accountability

Importance of data: There is much data that already exists (i.e. academic institutions, research organizations, etc.), and there should be an effort to utilize that data. The more data that can be accessed, the more accurately and efficiently regulations can be created and implemented. it is important to recognize that we cannot wait around for more data. We must proceed with the data we have and continue to collect more as time goes on.

  • Include information about the joint IMO/ILO working group, port-based welfare committees, IHMA forum, ICMA or other organizations and might have information.
  • Where should we collect data from? How do we involve all stakeholders? How to we establish guidelines for the creation of investigatory bodies that are appropriate, efficient and fair?
    • Proposal from Saudi Arabia to work on a proposal/request for IMO statistics – Investigate if it is possible to gain IMO statistics on incidents for sexual harassment/bullying etc if recorded. Potential to reach out to countries through IMO. Requires additional planning.
    • ITF may have statistics/data as well. Global Maritime Forum collect data from shipmanagers to share data.

3) Any other business

No new input

4) Next Meeting

Proposed future meeting days:

The next meetings of the COPE° Working group (main group):

  • Tuesday 17 January 2022 at 12.00 UTC

The next meeting of the Sub-Group on PSSR Model Course:

  • Tuesday 13 December 2022 20.00 UTC

Combined meeting on two different times:
The next meeting of the Sub-Group on Data Collection, Output and Harmonization
The next meeting of the Sub-Group on Reporting mechanisms and accountability

  • Tuesday 20 December 2022 at 11.00 UTC
  • Tuesday 20 December 2022 at 20.00 UTC

ANNEX A
List of Members and Participants

The members and participates of the COPE° Working group on Psychological Safety and Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector are listed below.

*The information in the list is privacy sensitive, and thus will not be published here.*

ANNEX B
Terms of Reference

The COPE° Working group on Psychological Safety and Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector is hosted by Center for Ocean Policy and Economics, a subset of The Northeast Maritime Institute – College of Maritime Science. COPE° facilitates committed maritime government, non-government, corporate, education, science and technology experts and partners to collaborate and create drivers for change. Members of the working group will be sharing information, ideas, learnings and pooling resources in order to work on:

  1. developing and delivering relevant actions and impactful solutions
  2. drivers for change, in order to tackle the wicked problems present in our world today
  3. solutions to build on an international UN framework to connect the industry to objectives.

The work the COPE° working group will be driven by ethical and humanitarian based values, taking into account:

  1. building on a psychologically safe workplace culture in the maritime sector
  2. the successful integration of vulnerable and marginalized groups, in support of diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and acceptance
  3. the issues relating to sexual assault, harassment and bullying in the maritime sector
  4. transparency and integrity
  5. supporting and honoring mariners globally

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