German Navy Training Ship Dubbed 'Floating Brothel'

A report leaked Tuesday details inappropriate behavior onboard a German navy training vessel that may have in part led to the deaths of two female sailors.

In a written report, Hellmut Koningshau, the government official put in charge of the investigation, details several lewd and inappropriate acts onboard the ship. His accounts have given the GORCH FOCK, a new nick name in Germany, the ship is now dubbed as “Germany’s largest floating brothel.”
Lena Seele, 25, was reportedly bullied into climbing a mast in November, where she fell to her death. Koninsgshau’s report claims that Seele’s death was so poorly handled (with a party thrown by the officers just days later) that following her death several cadets onboard refused to follow orders. The mutiny prompted an investigation. During the investigation several cadets have come forward with accounts of sexual harassment, bulling, and intoxication onboard the vessel. Another female cadet onboard drowned two years ago, her parents believe she was the victim of sexual harassment and are demanding a full investigation.

One cadet described being on the ship as being a lot like jail, with new recruits often being sexually harassed in the showers by officers. Additional reports claim that new cadets were forced into kissing the commander’s mud covered feet while he wore a blond wig, pretending to be Thetis the Greek water goddess. Pictures published in the German newspaper, Bild, show cadets being dunked into a dingy full of a dark slop and kneeling down in front of the “goddess” commander.

Germany’s defense minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has been heavily scrutinized for what many believe was an intentional cover-up of the incidents onboard the GORCH FOCK. Guttenberg suspended the ship’s captain while an investigation is being carried out.

The ship is currently docked in Argentina, where a team of seven investigators will meet Thursday to find answers.