Access to shore leave is a fundamental right under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) and is essential for safeguarding seafarers’ health, wellbeing and dignity. However, in practice, seafarers frequently face restrictions on shore leave due to commercial pressures, port security requirements, immigration barriers and operational constraints.
Denial or limitation of shore leave prevents seafarers from accessing rest, medical care, communication with family and basic services, exacerbating fatigue and mental health risks. In many cases, tight turnaround times and cost-driven scheduling mean ships remain in port for insufficient time to allow safe and meaningful shore leave.
Seafarers may also be denied disembarkation due to visa restrictions or administrative barriers beyond their control. During global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these risks intensified significantly, with many seafarers confined on board for extended periods without relief. ITF research...
Restrictions on shore leave are closely linked to other human rights risks, including excessive contract extensions, isolation and limited access to grievance mechanisms. In some cases, seafarers may be unable to report abuses or seek assistance due to their confinement on board. The denial of shore leave is therefore not an isolated issue but a structural indicator of broader failures in work organisation, regulatory enforcement and respect for seafarers’ rights.
Addressing this risk requires recognising shore leave as essential to safe operations and human rights compliance, rather than a discretionary or operational inconvenience.