Ship terror

“I was scared shitless. Petrified.”

They had been at sea for about two and half weeks. No land in

sight. It was an overseas run, nine weeks in total. The boys were all

missing home, their wives and kids and talking about them. Clare

would join them and talk about where she lived and her boyfriend.

She was the only woman among the crew of 18.

“It started off small, but gradually got worse and worse,” she said.

“This one bloke on board was trying to entice me to come back to

his cabin all the time. Each time he’d see me he’d ask me again.

“He’d say, ‘I’ll teach you this ocean mat, fancy knot work.’

“Right mate, come into the bar,” I’d say.

“I had a passion for everything seafaring. I was grateful for

learning things. But I wanted to do it with all the boys on deck

or as a group. I’d never go to his cabin. I’d never go near any of

the guys like that. But when I refused he’d get very angry.”

Clare would try having her dinner late. She’d sneak down when

she thought she wouldn’t see him.

“I didn’t have a hiding place. The ship was big, but not that

big,” she said. “I wouldn’t hang out with the crew. I’d try hiding

in the gym, but he’d find me. Sometimes I’d lock myself in

there. I really didn’t know what to do. I figured maybe if I didn’t

start any trouble he’d leave me alone. I never told anyone. I

thought that way it would stop. I just ignored him.”

So Clare kept trying to avoid the guy during the day and to go

to bed early each night, careful to lock her cabin door behind

her. But it didn’t stop and he didn’t go away. Each night he came

down and bashed on the door.

The bosun overheard from his cabin next door. He asked if he

could do anything. But Clare said no.

“Maybe I should have let them step in early but I kept saying I

can handle it myself. I had always dealt with stuff myself the best

I could.

“The guys said: ‘For Christ’s sake you’ve got to do something

about this.’ He upset the whole crowd. I know he’d had a fight

with one of the other guys. But he mainly picked on me because

I was the only girl.”

Then things came to a head.

The crew were in a safety drill one afternoon

and the IR turned on Clare with a (7 kilogram)

mag torch. A couple of the other IRs heard.

“I’m going to bash you,” he said under his

breath. “I’m going to bash you.”

“And that’s when I realised I had to say something. This is the

important bit. What I did, and this is what I think most women

should do, I went and spoke to the delegate. I stood up for myself.”

The MUA delegate told Clare he’d noticed problems. He’d been

waiting for her to come to see him; been wanting to approach her.

“We all had a face to face chat with the delegate, the bosun and

the member who was harassing me. The delegate got it sorted.

We had a meeting and discussed the problem.”

The general rule on ships is if there’s a dispute between two

people then both have to leave. But because Clare called the

meeting, the IR agreed to leave.

“By me talking to the delegate and bringing my comrades

together we got it fixed,” she said. “I should have done it sooner.

I should have gone to my delegate straight away, but I was scared.

“Harassment is pretty widespread in the industry. Verbal abuse

I’ve learnt to deal with, but this was different. I’m over it now,

but it really played on my mind for a time. When I paid on a

ship I’d ask if he was on board. I have statements from the crew,

in case ever he comes looking for me. But it’s been six months

and no one’s come looking.

“I’ve been at sea five years now and that was only one bloke. I’ve

been really lucky the last two ships. And the ship I’m on now,

the crew are so lovely.

“I’m not leaving the industry. I’ve pretty much worked on the

water since I was 14. I’ve pretty much always had a love of the

ocean. I’ll be here until I’m too old to work.”

More women are going to sea now (340). And it’s fairly isolated

work. Clare (not her real name) agreed to do this story because

she wants women to know you don’t have to worry; you don’t

have to think you have to take on the world yourselves.

“We’ve got ship’s delegates, we’ve got the union,” she said.

“Most guys are excellent. If there’s a problem on board don’t go

to the captain, don’t stay silent. Go to your delegate. Go to the

union. Have faith in your MUA members and your delegate.

That’s the reason they’re there – to help you.”