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 accidents.
Climate change is intensifying these risks through more frequent and severe weather events, storms, rough seas and unpredictable conditions. Commercial pressure requires seafarers to keep working through hazardous conditions, increasing risks to seafarers’ safety and wellbeing. Climate-related risks also disrupt operations, leading to longer voyages, extended periods on board and increased workloads.
These risks are compounded by systemic factors such as poor ship design, insufficient rest periods and limited ability for seafarers to refuse unsafe work. None of this is incidental: it must be addressed within companies’ duty of care, which means integrating worker safety into operational planning and recognising the direct link between environmental conditions and human rights at sea.