A crew member on board the Valiant Lady has filed a complaint against her former partner, also a crew member on the ship, over sexual assault during the vessel’s stay in Palermo, Italy, according to local media reports.

The incident took place during the night while the ship was docked at the Fincantieri shipyard for scheduled drydock maintenance. Authorities say the woman, a 26-year-old Peruvian crew member, reported that the 32-year-old man allegedly became aggressive after drinking and attempted to force himself on her inside their cabin.

According to reports from Palermo Today, the woman managed to break free and seek help from fellow crew members, who immediately alerted authorities. Italy’s Maritime Border Police reportedly activated procedures used in sensitive assault cases, interviewing the woman in a protected setting and documenting her allegations.

Medical examinations were later carried out at Palermo’s Polyclinic Hospital, where doctors reportedly noted marks on the woman’s arms consistent with her statement to investigators.

The two crew members had reportedly been in a relationship for around three years and had been sharing a cabin with permission from the ship’s command. The woman allegedly told investigators that while previous arguments had occurred, especially when alcohol was involved, she had never experienced this type of incident before.

Local authorities have opened an investigation into the alleged assault. The male crew member was disembarked from the ship and repatriated to Peru following the incident, according to the report.