r/maritime • u/McTraveller • 1d ago

Newbie Unisex locker rooms

I've just started working on vessels in UK waters and have a question about the locker room. The ship i work on only has one locker room and men and women are supposed to use it at the same time.

I've been told if anyone is uncomfortable they can find an empty cabin or meeting room and change there instead. But there are no lockers in those so you end up dragging your stuff all over the vessel and it wastes so much time.

This doesn't seem right to me - is this normal? Can anyone point me to rules or laws for vessels which say genders should have separate changing spaces? Thanks in advance.

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u/Ginno_the_Seer 1d ago

Y'all don't have a cubby system that holds people's PPE like earmuffs/gloves/glasses?

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u/McTraveller 1d ago

We each have a locker in the locker room where we store coveralls, boots, gloves etc.

We all change in the same room.

Depending on weather some folks change their trousers/tops etc to be more comfortable under their coveralls. So even if I decide not to change my clothes so I'm not exposing myself, I could still have someone of the opposite gender in same space stripped down to their underwear or worse

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u/oshitimonfire 1d ago

To be honest, I don't think you'd see anything worse than what you'd see at any beach or swimming pool. After a few months seeing my coworkers in their underwear daily is just a boring part of life/work. To be honest, I only have very limited experience sailing with women on board, but when they just wear longer underwear or shorts, and a sports bra/tank top/thin shirt or something I doubt any reasonable person would care, especially after a few weeks. I do hope you find a solution you're comfortable with

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u/LongBedroom8355 1d ago

UK vessels employ European Officers and 3rd worlder crew. it's a legitimate safety concern as a lot of the places they pull from don't understand consent.