Samuel Sullivan Irvin, III was a prolific shipboard sexual predator who terrorized numerous female cadets and other female mariners who sailed aboard his vessels. Irvin was eventually charged with 12 counts of shipboard sexual misconduct by the U.S. Coast Guard, including the rape and forcible sodomy of women serving under him aboard his vessels.

Samuel Sullivan Irvin, III was a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Irvin was a deck officer and a member of the Masters, Mates, & Pilots labor union who rose to the position of Captain with Maersk Line, Limited.

Samuel Irvin did not face criminal charges and did not even lose his Merchant Mariner’s license as a result of the Coast Guard’s sexual misconduct investigation. Instead, Irvin signed an until-recently secret Settlement Agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard that was approved via a Consent Order signed by a U.S. Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge. Per the secret agreement, Irvin had his Merchant Mariner’s license suspended for 30 months (2.5 years) and was required to “enroll and complete a bona fide Sexual Harassment training.”

Irvin was represented in matters before the Coast Guard by attorney William Hewig III. Hewig also represented Maersk Captain Mark Stinziano in Stinziano’s sexual misconduct S&R trial that resulted in only a four month suspension for Stinziano. Irvin and Stinziano were both members of Masters, Mates, & Pilots.

Upon completion of his 30 month suspension, Irvin was free to continue his career at sea.

Links to stories and horror stories about Samuel Sullivan Irvin, III:

1. U.S. Coast Guard vs. Samuel Sullivan Irvin

2. I Sailed As a Deck Cadet with Maersk Under Chief Mate Samuel Sullivan Irvin. After a Few Weeks of Sexual Harassment, Being Around Him Became Unbearable and I Began Having Nightmares About Him.

3. Coast Guard Commandant: Please Investigate Samuel Sullivan Irvin. He is a sexual predator, but the response to Our Allegations by Maersk and MMP “has been chilling to say the least.”

4. Every day Sailing with C/M Sam Irvin was extremely uncomfortable. I was scared & dreaded reporting to work. I chose to forget most of it, but these are the things that were not as easy to forget.

5. When I Was a Cadet Sailing With Maersk, Chief Mate Samuel Irvin Broke Into My Room and Tried to Get in Bed With Me. He Was Drunk and Supposed to Be on the Bridge Standing Watch at the Time.

6. Maersk Chief Mate Charged With Shipboard Rape and Molestation By U.S. Coast Guard Allowed to Keep His Merchant Mariner’s License After Signing Secret Settlement Agreement

7. U.S. Coast Guard vs. Samuel Sullivan Irvin, III: Consent Order, Settlement Agreement, and Investigation Report