Maritime Legal Aid & Advocacy

Captain John C. Merrone mlccadmin September 9, 2024

  • Captain John Merrone

    Accused Maritime Serial Rapist, Now Banned From Maritime Industry


    Captain John C. Merrone

On October 7, 2022 CNN reported that American ship Captain John C. Merrone had been charged by the U.S. Coast Guard with allegedly drugging two U.S. Merchant Marine Academy students at sea aboard his vessel, raping one of the young women, and attempting to sexually assault the 2nd woman. CNN reported the U.S. Coast Guard was seeking to revoke Merrone’s Merchant Mariner’s license over the allegations.

CNN also reported that Merrone had previously been accused of raping a woman in Florida. According to CNN:

This is not the first time Merrone has been accused of rape. Back in 2011, a woman arrived at a hospital bruised and beaten, saying he raped her in his apartment in the Florida Keys, according to criminal court records that included testimony from the nurse who examined her. Merrone was promptly arrested and sentenced by a jury to two years in prison for false imprisonment and battery, but his conviction was later overturned in appeals court. The Coast Guard told CNN it was unaware of the conviction until it had already been overturned two years later, so no action was taken against his credential.

On October 12, 2022 MLAA reported that the American Maritime Officers labor union released a statement announcing that Merrone had been kicked out of the membership of the American Maritime Officers (AMO) labor union according to a resolution of AMO’s National Executive Board posted to the AMO website.

On November 1, 2022 Newsday reported that Merrone had voluntarily surrendered his Merchant Mariner’s Credential and Captain’s license to the U.S. Coast Guard and had accepted a lifetime ban from the U.S. maritime industry in exchange for halting the administrative proceedings against his credentials.

If you have information regarding Captain John Merrone relevant to ongoing law enforcement investigations into alleged druggings and sexual assaults committed by Merrone, please contact MLAA by emailing help@maritimelegalaid.com or calling/texting 302-827-3890.

Links to stories and documents about John C. Merrone

  1. CNN: Ship captain allegedly drugged two students at sea, raped one of them

  2. MLAA: Accused Serial Rapist Captain John Merrone Kicked Out of American Maritime Officers (AMO) Labor Union Following “Multiple Credible Allegations” Ashore & Aboard Vessels Under AMO Contract

  3. gCaptain: Midshipman X2 – US Ship Captain Is Accused Of Rape 

  4. MLAA: Accused Serial Rapist Captain John Merrone Surrenders Captain’s License to Avoid Coast Guard Trial. Issued Permanent Ban From U.S. Maritime Industry

  5. gCaptain: Report: American Ship Captain Surrenders License Amid Rape Accusation

  6. Newsday: Coast Guard: Cargo ship captain accused of rape surrenders license