Maersk Line has agreed to change its safety reporting policies and pay a former employee after firing them for reporting safety issues to the U.S. Coast Guard without first telling the company.

The agreement comes after a hearing in June 2024, where the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Maersk violated the employee’s rights under the Seaman’s Protection Act. This law protects workers who report safety issues from retaliation. OSHA found that Maersk’s policy, which required employees to notify the company before contacting the Coast Guard, was against the law. Workers have the right to report safety concerns directly to authorities without fear of punishment.

The investigation started when the seaman raised safety concerns about the ship Safmarine Mafadi in December 2020. The issues included:

• Lifeboat equipment needing repairs
• Crew members possibly drinking alcohol
• Inadequate supervision of trainee crew members
• Problems with a system that prevents flooding

Seema Nanda, the Solicitor of Labor, emphasized that the Department of Labor will protect workers who report safety concerns. She praised the former employee for their bravery in raising these issues, which could have endangered the crew.

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As part of the settlement, Maersk agreed to:

• Remove the requirement for...

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