Violence and harassment are systemic and serious risks in maritime shipping, recognised under ILO Convention 190 as violations of human rights and occupational safety and health. Seafarers operate in isolated, confined and highly hierarchical environments, which can increase exposure to bullying, intimidation, physical violence and sexual harassment. The closed nature of vesselships, combined with long periods at sea and limited external oversight, can allow abusive behaviours to persist undetected.
Power imbalances on board – —particularly between officers and crew – —can create conditions where harassment and abuse are normalised or go unchallenged. Seafarers may face verbal abuse, threats or coercion linked to performance, discipline or workload. Women seafarers, who remain underrepresented in the sector, are at heightened risk of gender-based violence and harassment, including sexual harassment and assault, often compounded by a lack of gender-sensitive policies, reporting mechanisms or onboard facilities.
Violence and harassment may also intersect with discrimination and forced labour risks. Seafarers from certain nationalities or in lower ranks may be disproportionately targeted, while migrant status and dependency on employers can increase vulnerability and limit access to protection or remedy. Fear of retaliation, blacklisting or contract termination can deter workers from reporting incidents.
The denial of safe reporting channels, limited access to communication and restricted shore leave further exacerbate these risks. Violence and harassment at sea therefore represent not isolated incidents, but structural risks embedded in working conditions, governance gaps and weak enforcement, requiring comprehensive and worker-centred approaches to prevention and accountability.