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The Maritime Labour Convention requires shipowners to repatriate seafarers at the end of contract, at no cost to the seafarer. Some companies refuse – and when they do a seafarer may be classed as abandoned.

Operators fail to prepare visas or schedule replacement crew in time, often to avoid

Seafarers often work long and irregular hours. The Maritime Labour Convention sets limits on maximum hours of work and minimum hours of rest. 

But shipping companies undermine them routinely – circumventing minimum safe manning standards, overworking crew beyond maximum overtime levels, and relying

Seafarers are directly exposed to climate and weather. High temperatures in engine rooms and enclosed workspaces can cause dehydration, heat stress and fatigue, while cold environments bring risks of hypothermia and reduced physical function. Both impair concentration and increase the likelihood of

Seafarers are routinely exposed to hazardous substances and biological risks while handling fuels, chemicals, cargo residues, cleaning agents and other harmful substances, often in confined or poorly ventilated environments. 

Without adequate controls, this can lead to acute illness, long-term health

Mental health and psychosocial risks are widespread in maritime shipping and are closely linked to the systemic conditions of seafaring. Seafarers work in isolated, confined environments for extended periods, separated from family and support networks. 

This is combined with a non-caring work culture

The Flag of Convenience (FOC) system is a systemic driver of human and labour rights risk in maritime transport. 

The FOC system enables shipowners to choose the country to flag a ship, with little or no connection to where the ship is owned or operated, in order to reduce regulatory oversight and

Responsible companies have processes in place to review decisions to operate, source or continue business activities in conflict zones, post-conflict areas or otherwise high-risk areas or countries. 

These settings raise the risk of gross human rights abuses, and companies must apply heightened due

Seafarer abandonment is an intentional human and labour rights abuse, and is a spiralling, systemic problem. 

In 2025, ship abandonment figures reached record levels for the sixth year in a row, up 31% on 2024. 

A ship is classed as abandoned under international law if a shipowner fails to pay wages

ITF AGREEMENTS MITIGATE RISKS 

Around 15,000 ships operate under ITF Agreements. 

Every human rights risk specific to maritime shipping set out in this guidance is markedly mitigated and reduced on a ship covered by an ITF Agreement. 

There are three main types of ITF Agreement, all approved by the ITF

Withholding Pay

Shipping is one of the few industries with an international minimum wage. 

The ILO sets a minimum monthly wage for able seafarers (certified, low ranking deck crew) through the Joint Maritime Commission, on which the ITF represents seafarers alongside shipowners and governments —