Editorial illustration of John Merrone seated in a wheelchair in federal court, with six women facing the courtroom and a cargo ship visible through the windows.

Maritime Sexual Assault

U.S. v. Merrone: The Six Women the Jury Never Heard

On the morning his historic sexual assault trial began in Brooklyn, the former ship captain was facing testimony from six women: the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet he drugged and raped, her cadet sea partner, and four other women prepared to describe a pattern of sexual abuse reaching back twenty-seven years. This is the case the government was prepared, and permitted, to present before Merrone decided to plead guilty.

MLAA StaffAUG 11, 2026

MARITIME ACCOUNTABILITY

Maritime Legal Aid & Advocacy (MLAA).

Giving a voice to victims of harassment and abuse at sea.

Holding the maritime industry accountable through investigative journalism, federal FOIA litigation, and resources for mariners harmed at sea.

FOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUESFOUNDED 2020 · 501(C)(3) · MIDSHIPMAN-X · SAFER SEAS ACT · OPERATION FOULED ANCHOR · THE FIGHT CONTINUES

We Built a Searchable Public Docket for the Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Court.

The MLAA Administrative Law Judge Docket is the first public-facing tool to track disciplinary actions, license suspensions, and civil penalties within the maritime sector.

Browse full docket →

NameDocket #Status

U.S. Coast Guard vs. Mark Steven Stinziano

2020-0328

open

U.S. Coast Guard vs. Edgar Torrecampo Sison

2023-0115

closed

U.S. Coast Guard vs. Gregory A. Steele

2023-0486

closed

U.S. Coast Guard vs. Tyrone Dale Moberg

2023-0374

closed

Recent Investigations

Maritime Sexual Assault

United States v. Captain John Merrone: The Six Women the Jury Never Heard

AUG 11, 2026Read Full Report

Navy Retaliation Lawsuit

Illustration of Kathryn Denise Rucker Krepp holding documents before the U.S. Capitol, facing retired Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, with a Navy ship at right.

Former MARAD Chief Counsel Seeks Emergency Injunction After Navy Orders Her Back Under Supervisor She Accused of Retaliation

JUL 30, 2026 Maritime Sexual Assault

AI-generated editorial illustration of former ship captain John Merrone in a wheelchair and head scarf outside a federal courthouse, with a cargo ship in the background.

Landmark Federal Maritime Sexual Assault Prosecution Ends With Guilty Pleas

JUL 23, 2026

SUNY Maritime

Paddy’s on the Bay and the Empire State VII at night.

SUNY Maritime Training Ship Officer Accused of Assaulting Female Cadet on Final Night of 2025 Summer Sea Term — Then He Quietly Left the College

JUL 08, 2026 SUNY Maritime

Editorial illustration of licensed engineers walking off a training ship beside a cutaway view of contaminated shipboard water tanks.

Five Licensed Engineers Reportedly Walk Off SUNY Maritime's Training Ship Over Contaminated Drinking Water

JUL 05, 2026

FOIA Litigation Docket

Federal Lawsuit

MLAA v. U.S. Coast Guard (No. 2)

MLAA's second FOIA lawsuit against the U.S. Coast Guard, currently in its initial stages. The case seeks disclosure of records withheld by the agency in response to MLAA's Freedom of Information Act request.

active

Federal Lawsuit

MLAA v. U.S. Coast Guard (No. 1)

MLAA filed a FOIA lawsuit in federal court against the U.S. Coast Guard to compel disclosure of records related to the agency's internal investigation into sexual assault and misconduct. When the Coast Guard failed to produce responsive records, MLAA brought suit under FOIA to force disclosure.

closed

Federal Lawsuit

MLAA v. Maritime Administration (MARAD)

MLAA sued the Maritime Administration in federal court under FOIA to compel production of records related to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the agency's handling of sexual assault and misconduct reports. The case is now closed.

closed

View full litigation docket →

WHISTLEBLOWER TESTIMONY

First-hand accounts of misconduct and accountability failures in the maritime industry.

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy · Sept 27, 2021

I Was a 19-Year-Old Virgin When I Was Raped by a 60+ Year-Old 1st Engineer Aboard a Maersk Ship During Sea Year.

By Midshipman-X

In our class of approximately 50 women, I know of at least 5 women who were forcibly raped during Sea Year. And I am one of them.

Read the full account →

U.S. Coast Guard · Jun 9, 2024

The Coast Guard Used Me to Lie to Victims of Sexual Assault at the Coast Guard Academy as Part of Their Operation Fouled Anchor Cover-up. I Can No Longer Be Part of This System.

By Shannon Norenberg, former U.S. Coast Guard Academy Sexual Assault Response Coordinator

We weren't sent out there to help these people. We were sent out there as part of an elaborate cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor designed to hide the existence of the investigation from Congress and the public.

Read the full account →

U.S. Navy · Sept 2, 2024

I Am a Surface Warfare Officer for the United States Navy and I'm Blowing the Whistle on Our Toxic Work Culture.

By a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer

The biggest myth in the Navy SWO community is that keeping silent while your chain of command terrorizes you makes you tough and resilient — that by enduring it, you're a true SWO. No, it makes you a fucking coward.

Read the full account →

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