Joaney was sexually abused by two crew members on a ship
All names and identifying details have been changed.
Participants have given us permission to share their experiences.
Joaney says she had ‘an unusual life’ as a child. Her dad was in the merchant navy and she and her mum would accompany him on board his ship during school holidays. She says at first this was a very positive and happy experience. Some of the ships had children’s rooms which she really enjoyed.
But on one voyage, when Joaney was about 10, two of the crew members sexually abused her. One was a technician, who would take her to his cabin and put his hands all over her body. She now realises that he was aroused, but she did not understand this at the time.
The other crew member who abused her worked in the kitchens. When she had to go past his cabin and he saw her, he would corner her inside. He pulled his pants down and put her hand on his penis. He once tried to penetrate her. The abuse happened nearly every day and she says that being on a ship, it was difficult to keep out of their way.
She reported the abuse when there was a suspected crime on the ship and the police became involved, and she was among the people questioned. Her report was passed on to the shipping company, and Joaney received an apology from them, but no other action was taken.
Joaney says she has coped with the abuse by putting her feelings ‘in a box and keeping the lid on them’.
She says trust is ‘a massive issue’ for her and she constantly questions the motives of others.
Joaney feels that all companies and organisations have a duty of care when children are taken into workplaces and that there should be protocols in place to protect them.