Seafarers are routinely exposed to hazardous substances and biological risks as an inherent part of maritime operations. Work on board vesselships involves handling fuels, chemicals, cargo residues, cleaning agents and other potentially harmful substances, often in confined or poorly ventilated
Mental health and psychosocial risks are widespread in maritime shipping and are closely linked to the structural conditions of seafaring:. there is a mental health crisis at sea, marked by concerning rates of depression (25 percent), anxiety (17 percent) and suicidal ideation (20 percent) among
The Flag of Convenience (FOC) system is a core, structural driver of human and labour rights risk in maritime supply chains. The FOC system enables shipowners to flag a ship in a country of their choosing, with little or no connection to where the ship is owned or operated, in order to reduce
Responsible companies have appropriate processes in place to review decisions to operate, source, or continue existing business activities in conflict zones, post-conflict or otherwise high-risk countries.
These circumstances increase the risk of gross human rights abuses, so companies must carry
Seafarer abandonment is an intentional abuse of seafarers’ human and labour rights and is a spiralling, systemic problem in the industry: record ship abandonment figures in 2025 marked the sixth year in a row of record-breaking abandonment, and a 31% year-on-year increase in abandonment.
A ship is
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Restrictions on freedom of association and collective bargaining are critical risks for seafarers and undermine the protection of all other labour rights at sea. Despite being fundamental rights under ILO Conventions 87 and 98 and reinforced by the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), these rights are
The rapid introduction of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), automation and alternative fuels, is transforming maritime shipping but also creating new and often under-recognised risks for seafarers. These risks arise when technological change is implemented without adequate
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
