A.P. Moller-Maersk, commonly known as Maersk, is a Danish shipping company and the world’s largest container shipping line and vessel operator. It plays a crucial role in global trade, transporting about 15% of the world’s seaborne freight.
In December 2020, a significant workplace safety incident occurred on the Safmarine Mafadi, a Maersk-operated container ship. The incident involved several safety concerns, including lifeboat equipment needing repair and replacement, crew members possessing and possibly consuming alcohol, improper supervision of cadet seamen, and a bilge system failing to prevent cargo holds from flooding.
A Chief Mate reported these concerns directly to the U.S. Coast Guard, bypassing Maersk’s internal reporting procedures. This led to the Chief Mate being fired, which resulted in a whistleblower discrimination case. The U.S. Department of Labor found that Maersk violated the employee’s rights under the federal Seaman’s Protection Act by retaliating against the seaman.
As a result, Maersk settled the case, agreed to compensate the former employee, and changed its safety reporting policies to comply with federal regulations.
In a landmark decision stemming from a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, Maersk Line Limited, a titan in global marine […]
