Seafarer Safety News

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had held a "very good" conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G7 summit in France and that their two countries were working on trade deals.Trump called Modi a "tough negotiator," and told reporters that he would be going to India "sometime in the future".India has been pressing the United States for months for a Trump trip, potentially as part of a meeting including Japan and Australia.The two leaders' meeting is their first since February 2025…

BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO unanimously condemns recent attacks on seafarers and commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the organization has verified 46 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, 2026, with 14 confirmed seafarer fatalities.There is grave concern about the recent escalation of the conflict which puts the lives of our seafarers at risk…

Shipping executives meeting in Athens on Monday said that any peace deal worked out between the United States and Iran would need to offer clear rules allowing vessels to resume normal business via the Strait of Hormuz.Shipowners and maritime industry officials met at a Capital Link conference and other events to begin Posidonia, a week-long biennial shipping exhibition.Below are selected quotes (in alphabetical order):ARSENIO DOMINGUEZ, SECRETARY GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO)"There have been ... recent announcements that there's a possibility of a 60-day ceasefire.

“Access to innovation is no longer enough. Competitive advantage will be defined by how effectively we turn technology into safe, reliable performance at sea," said John McDonald, ABS Chairman and CEO at Capital Link at the start of Posidonia, as he set out the urgent need to close the gap between rapid technological advancement and real-world performance.He highlighted the increasingly complex operating environment facing shipping, shaped by constrained capital, rising costs…

In response to the increase in reported cases of seafarer abandonment, the World Maritime University (WMU) has launched a large-scale research initiative titled Seafarer Abandonment: A focused investigation into regulatory implementation.Funded by The TK Foundation, The ITF Seafarers’ Trust, and The Seafarers’ Charity, the research will examine how existing international protections, particularly those under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), are implemented across flag…

On 27 May, a new report titled “Charting the Distinct Rights of Sea Workers in European Waters: A Focus on Decent Working Time,” was released by the World Maritime University (WMU) commissioned by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The study is primarily driven by the differential treatment of sea workers compared with land-based workers, which has resulted in their exclusion from several EU directives and in working and living conditions that fall below general labour standards.

Crowley mariners who served aboard the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate were honored with the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Gallant Ship Award during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Maritime Day observance in Washington, D.C. The award, one of the maritime industry’s highest distinctions, recognizes the 23-member crew’s extraordinary professionalism, courage and commitment to safety.The award recognizes the crew’s actions during a March 10, 2025 collision in the North Sea…

The Chamber of Shipping of America has recognized 48 Crowley-owned or -managed vessels with 2026 Jones F. Devlin Safety Awards for achieving a combined 427 years of service without a lost-time injury.The Jones F. Devlin Safety Award recognizes merchant vessels that operate for at least two consecutive years without a crew member experiencing a lost-time injury. The awarded Crowley vessels include tugs, barges, commercial container ships and tank vessels operating globally.The…

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have met representatives from Gulf States to address the ongoing conflict and its direct impact on seafarers and shipping in the Gulf.The meeting comes four weeks into the deadly conflict in which seafarers have been killed, ships have come under attack, and an estimated 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in conditions of fear and uncertainty, on ships unable to transit the Strait of Hormuz.Discussions focused on urgent practical…

Seafarers calling at Ukrainian ports will receive specialist safety kits designed to mitigate the risks posed by missile and drone attacks under a new initiative from maritime charity Stella Maris.The crew safety kits are designed to help seafarers prepare for and respond to emergencies while operating in conflict affected regions.The initiative comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions affecting major shipping routes around the world, including the Strait of Hormuz, underlining the importance of ensuring seafarers are properly prepared to respond to emergencies.

Greece's shipping minister on Tuesday called for the protection of global shipping and seafarers, amid an "alarming" situation that has left dozens of ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider area due to the widening Iran conflict.Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday, choking off a key artery accounting for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. An Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official said on Monday Iran would fire on any ship trying to pass through…

The World Maritime University (WMU) has published a new report, In Search of a Sea-Life Balance in an Adverse Environment, shedding light on the realities of seafarers’ work, health and career intentions in today’s shipping industry. Commissioned by the Officers’ Union of International Seamen (OUIS), the study draws on responses from 4,372 seafarers representing 99 nationalities, making it one of the most comprehensive recent surveys of life and work at sea.The findings point to persistently long working hours…

Officer Lee Tae Young, a first mate from the Republic of Korea, has been awarded the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, in recognition of his heroic actions that saved 12 fellow crew members from the Geum Seong No. 135 when it sunk in November 2024. He was honored during a special ceremony recognizing seafarers held in London on November 24, 2025, in the margins of the IMO Assembly taking place from November 24 to December 3, 2025. IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez applauded Mr.

The United Seamen’s Service recognized Crowley mariners with honors at the 2025 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards. As one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the industry, the AOTOS awards spotlight outstanding maritime achievement and pay tribute to American seafarers whose courageous actions and commitment to safety have made a profound impact on the industry and the welfare of those at sea.The crew of the tanker Stena Immaculate was presented with the AOTOS Special…

Following the IMO’s newly tightened rules on enclosed-space entry, InterManager is urging all seafarers to participate in its global survey aimed at understanding why fatal incidents in enclosed spaces continue to occur, despite decades of safety campaigns and regulatory updates.The IMO’s recent amendments strengthen requirements for training, hazard identification, space-specific registers and rescue preparedness. Only trained and authorized personnel should enter or stand by during enclosed-space operations…

A newly released study by Seafarers' Rights International (SRI) finds that cabotage laws now exist on 85% of the world’s coastlines, are growing in number at an unprecedented pace, and are increasingly essential to national security, economic stability and maritime resilience.The Cabotage Laws of the World (2025) report, commissioned by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), compares nations in their enforcement of cabotage laws, which restrict the waterborne transportation of goods or passengers between two points within the same country to domestic carriers.

The Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF) has released frameworks designed to facilitate the development of training programs for seafarers working on ships powered by ammonia, methanol and hydrogen.The training frameworks address the needs of seafarers in entry-level or operational roles and senior officers. They are accompanied by comprehensive instructor handbooks.All material is accessible at: mjttf.orgThe MJTTF will also release guidelines for general familiarization programs…

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory note on Wednesday that it was aware of increased tensions in the Middle East which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.The UKMTO advised vessels to use caution when passing through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz.The UKMTO, which gathers reports on threats to shipping, did not specify the nature of the increase in tensions that prompted its alert.The United States and Iran are expected to hold a round of talks this week on Iran's nuclear programme.

A global safety charity is calling for ocean workers to be recognized as a frontline group when it comes to the impacts of climate change.According to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s latest World Risk Poll Focus On report, Risk perceptions and experiences of ocean workers, ocean workers are among one of the most vulnerable demographics in the face of climate change, with 80% of them saying they are worried about being seriously harmed by severe weather.The report is based on new analysis of data from the 2024 World Risk Poll…

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is backing the US Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) domestic investigation into vessel flagging laws, including the long-abused practice of ‘Flags of Convenience’ (FOCs).The FMC announced its probe last week, citing serious concerns that states operating FOCs are enabling a “race to the bottom” in global maritime regulations."The FMC is absolutely right in its assessment of Flags of Convenience and the permissive environments they create for unscrupulous shipowners and operators…

By May this year, 158 cases of vessel abandonment had been recorded, up from 119 at the same point in 2024.These cases represent more than 1,501 seafarers who have reached out to the ITF for assistance, many of whom were left unpaid, without food, water or access to ports, often for months at a time.“Abandonment is a growing, systemic problem,” said Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secretary. “Behind every number is a human being who has been failed by the industry and the governments responsible for regulating it.

For maritime personnel operating high-speed vessels, crew transfer vehicles, and small working boats, whole body vibrations (WBV) are more than just an uncomfortable part of the job, they represent a significant occupational hazard with both immediate and long-term health implications. These vibrations, transmitted through the hull, deck, seat, or floor to the crew, can lead to chronic health issues, reduced performance, and compromised safety at sea.As maritime operations continue to evolve with faster vessels and more demanding schedules…

Some 200 seafarers aboard more than 15 ships stuck for weeks off Yemen's port of Ras Isa are preparing to offload cargoes and leave thanks to a ceasefire deal between Houthi militia and the U.S., maritime and labour union sources said on Thursday.Still, threat levels for shipping remained high given the Houthis' confirmation that Israeli-related assets remained open to attack and the attendant risks to broader shipping, maritime officials said. Ships with no connection to Israel had been targeted in the past with no certainty of safe passage.President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S.