COPE° Working group on Psychological Safety, Bullying and Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector
The Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE°) working group for Psychological Safety, bullying and Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector is hosted by the Northeast Maritime Institute’s College of Maritime Science.
The working group includes maritime experts, academic institutions, IMO delegations, international maritime groups, corporate entities and charitable organizations from across the globe. The shared passion from all people in the group is to promote dialogue, identify research opportunities and deliver products that benefit mariners and the industry as a whole.
The primary focus of the working group centers on supporting mariners by delivering constructive solutions to ensure a psychologically safe workplace culture and to identify occupational hazards in the maritime industry. This includes improving operational maritime safety and security onboard ships while supporting diversity, equality, equity and inclusiveness.
The scope of the group encompasses harmonization of best practices, updating maritime course material to reflect modern mariners, the development of a comprehensive resource database and the creation of guidance documents.
Based on the proposal of the working group, the International Maritime Organization, on the 105th session of its Maritime Safety Committee, instructed the Sub-Committee on Human Element Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) to develop and finalize, as a matter of priority, STCW training provisions addressing bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment. The draft revised IMO Model Course 1.21 on Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, will be provided by the COPE° working group and submitted to HTW for validation in January 2023. The Maritime Safety Committee can adopt the revised IMO Model Course on PSSR in April 2023.
Organizations and individuals who would like to join the working group are encouraged to reach out to Ms. Eva Lianne Veldkamp via the button below.
Proposed Activity Items
Review and amend existing IMO model course 1.21 – Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
The work is based on the proposals identified in IMO document MSC105/16/4, submitted to IMO Maritime Safety Committee in 2022 by Dominica, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, InterManager, IIMA, ICHCA International, IFSMA, AMPP. The draft revised IMO Model Course 1.21 on Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, will be provided by the COPE° working group and submitted to HTW for validation in January 2023. The Maritime Safety Committee can adopt the revised IMO Model Course on PSSR in April 2023.
Provide training options
The work of the IMO Model course will be used to develop online training on NEMO° and will be made available free of charge. Amending and expanding existing training will be taken into account.
Harmonize best practices and guidance document
Systemizing and collecting data on best practices, guidance and other resources, to provide reliable and relatable output and support to seafarer’s rights and understanding.
Awareness and response
Building awareness and implementing change in the maritime industry in all areas surrounding psychological and sexual safety in the maritime sector.
