TradeWindsMar 11, 2025
US judge amps up punishment of former Maersk mariner in sexual abuse case
Coverage of Judge Jordan’s 2025 remand ruling.
Back to Docket Search
USCG Administrative Law Judge Case
U.S. Coast Guard vs. Mark Steven Stinziano
The Coast Guard alleged misconduct under 46 U.S.C. § 7703(1)(B) and 46 C.F.R. § 5.27, including allegations originally framed as abusive sexual contact, sexual harassment, assault and battery, hazing, and interference with a government official. The case outcome is recorded as 2025 remand Decision and Order: 12-month outright suspension followed by six-month suspension on 12 months probation, with credit noted for sanction time served under the 2022 order.
Disposition
Suspension
Posture
Appeal
Sanction
Suspension
2025 remand Decision and Order: 12-month outright followed by six-month suspension on 12 months probation, with credit noted for sanction time served under the 2022 order.
Judge
—
What the Record Shows
Case Summary
The Coast Guard alleged misconduct under 46 U.S.C. § 7703(1)(B) and 46 C.F.R. § 5.27, including allegations originally framed as abusive sexual contact, sexual harassment, assault and battery, hazing, and interference with a government official.
The February 24, 2025 case record is tied to docket 2020-0328, Enforcement Activity Number 5783758, procedural posture: Appeal, disposition: Suspension.
The available record identifies an appeal posture, so the case page should focus on the reviewing decision and avoid expanding beyond the issues stated in that source.
The docket metadata records the findings as: Proven: Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment of Cadet. Judge George J. Jordan’s 2025 remand Decision and Order found the remanded allegations proved and ordered suspension. Earlier proceedings included Judge Devine’s 2022 Decision and Order and CDOA 2737.
The recorded outcome or sanction is 2025 remand Decision and Order: 12-month outright suspension followed by six-month suspension on 12 months probation, with credit noted for sanction time served under the 2022 order.
Based on public docket metadata and available source documents. Allegations are described as allegations, not findings of fact or admissions.
Outcome
Proven: Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment of Cadet. Judge George J. Jordan’s 2025 remand Decision and Order found the remanded allegations proved and ordered suspension. Earlier proceedings included Judge Devine’s 2022 Decision and Order and CDOA 2737.
Sanction: Suspension
Duration: 12 months outright plus 6 months probationary suspension
Case Timeline
Dec 7, 2014
Alleged conduct begins
The Coast Guard case concerns alleged misconduct aboard the MAERSK IDAHO during the 2014-2015 Sea Year period.
Feb 3, 2015
Initial report
MLAA legacy coverage states that a formal report was made to Maersk and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Aug 20, 2020
Complaint filed
The Coast Guard filed the original complaint in docket 2020-0328.
Jun 3, 2021
Amended complaint
The Coast Guard filed an amended complaint containing six misconduct charges.
Jun 8, 2021
Hearing began
A hearing was held before Judge Michael J. Devine and continued across several hearing days.
Apr 20, 2022
Devine Decision and Order
Judge Devine found some charges proven as modified, found others not proven or dismissed, and imposed a 12-month suspension with four months outright and eight months probationary.
Aug 20, 2022
Initial outright suspension period ends
MLAA legacy coverage states Stinziano’s initial four-month outright suspension period ended in August 2022.
Aug 23, 2022
Media reports Maersk termination
Trade press and MLAA legacy coverage reported that Maersk terminated Stinziano after the 2022 suspension order.
Jan 6, 2023
Commandant Decision on Appeal 2737
The Vice Commandant issued CDOA 2737, affirming some findings, setting aside part of the order, and remanding the case.
Sep 14, 2023
Remand pre-hearing conference
MLAA legacy coverage states Judge Jordan held a pre-hearing conference and the parties proceeded on the existing record.
Nov 13, 2023
Post-remand briefs
Coast Guard prosecutors filed post-remand briefs, including arguments about federal sexual-assault standards and the Safer Seas Act.
Feb 24, 2025
Jordan remand Decision and Order
Judge Jordan found the remanded allegations proven and ordered a 12-month outright suspension followed by six months on probation, with credit noted for time previously served.
Mar 11, 2025
TradeWinds covers Jordan ruling
TradeWinds published coverage of the 2025 remand ruling and increased suspension.
Case Metadata
- Docket Number
- 2020-0328
- CDOA Appeal Number
- 2737
- Enforcement Activity Number
- 5783758
- Judge
- —
- Source Era
- 1999–2022 Published Decisions
- Dispositive Order Type
- Suspension
- Allegation
- The Coast Guard charged misconduct arising from alleged abusive sexual contact, assault and battery, harassment, hazing, and related conduct aboard the MAERSK IDAHO involving a deck cadet during the 2014-2015 Sea Year period.
- Source wording: The Coast Guard alleged misconduct under 46 U.S.C. § 7703(1)(B) and 46 C.F.R. § 5.27, including allegations originally framed as abusive sexual contact, sexual harassment, assault and battery, hazing, and interference with a government official.
- Alleged conduct dates: December 7, 2014 - March 10, 2015; December 7, 2014 - March 23, 2015; November 1, 2015 - February 28, 2016
- Authorities Cited
- 46 U.S.C. § 7703(1)(B)46 C.F.R. § 5.2746 C.F.R. § 5.5546 C.F.R. § 5.6146 C.F.R. § 5.56933 C.F.R. Part 20
- Coast Guard Representative
- Jennifer A. Mehaffey; Lineka N. Quijano; LCDR Brett L. Sprenger; Andrew S. Myers
- Mariner / Respondent Counsel
William Hewig III
Respondent counsel / Devine Decision and Order / Apr 20, 2022
Jeffrey T. Blake, KP Law
Respondent counsel / Jordan Remand Decision and Order / Feb 24, 2025
Sources, Context, and Method
What This Record Does and Does Not Show
Coast Guard suspension and revocation cases are administrative proceedings about a merchant mariner credential. They generally begin when a Coast Guard investigating officer files a complaint with the ALJ Docketing Center. Unless the case goes to a hearing and an ALJ finds the complaint allegations proved in a written decision and order, the allegations should be understood as allegations, not findings.
A settlement agreement or consent order can end the proceeding without an admission of the alleged conduct. This page therefore separates what the Coast Guard alleged from what an ALJ, Commandant appeal decision, default order, settlement order, dismissal, or other public record actually decided.
MLAA builds these pages from public Coast Guard ALJ docket data, official Coast Guard source documents, preserved docket-source proof, and available orders or decisions. We preserve source records where we can, label allegations as allegations, avoid treating docket categories as factual findings, and invite source-backed corrections when a record needs to be fixed.
Media Coverage
Reporting on this case
TradeWindsDec 4, 2023
Hazing or sexual abuse? US Coast Guard court still grappling with case dating back nine years
Coverage of the remand proceedings in USCG vs. Stinziano.
TradeWindsAug 23, 2022
Captain fired by Maersk Line Ltd after hazing suspension
Coverage of Maersk terminating Stinziano after the 2022 suspension order.
ShippingWatchJun 1, 2022
Maersk captain was convicted for offences on ship - authority demands stronger sentence
Coverage of the Coast Guard appeal effort after Judge Devine’s 2022 order.
The Maritime ExecutiveMay 1, 2022
Maersk Officer has License Suspended for Misconduct to Cadet at Sea
Coverage of Judge Devine’s 2022 suspension order.
TradeWindsMar 19, 2022
Maersk captain faces fire over allegations of sexual misconduct at sea
MLAA migrated copy/link for TradeWinds coverage before the 2022 order.
Insurance Marine NewsMay 1, 2022
Captain suspended after groping accusation
Coverage of the 2022 suspension order.
Insurance Marine NewsAug 1, 2022
Maersk Line Ltd fires captain in sexual harassment case
Coverage of Stinziano’s termination from Maersk.
Suggest a Correction
See something that needs correction?
MLAA builds this docket from public records and source documents. If a name, date, docket number, summary, or document link appears wrong, please send us the correction and any source that helps verify it.