London, United Kingdom. The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Legal Committee is reviewing an update on the fair treatment of seafarers as shipping bodies intensify efforts to protect crews from detention and criminal proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.
Report highlights prolonged detentions and legal uncertainty
According to Maritime Cyprus, a joint report submitted by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said seafarers are increasingly being detained for long periods, in some cases for years, while authorities investigate alleged crimes despite what it described as the absence of reliable evidence.
The report said the issue has exposed a “critical gap” between national governments and local judicial systems. It said that while many IMO member states support international fair treatment guidelines, local prosecutors and courts may not be aware of them or may fail to apply them when dealing with maritime accidents or criminal investigations.
The report said seafarers can be separated from their families, unable to return home, and caught in legal systems that do not always recognise the particular nature of their work.
Industry forum established to support detained crew cases
In response, the ICS and ITF set up the Industry Standing Forum on the Criminalisation of Seafarers, which the report described as a new body intended to provide a stronger and more coordinated industry voice in cases involving detained crew members.
The report said the forum is expected to support active cases by engaging with authorities through a representative industry front and by sharing expertise on the application of the 2025 ILO/IMO Guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers.
It said the forum has met three times and has made joint representations in several specific cases involving detained seafarers.
Drug trafficking cited as a growing risk for crews
The report also pointed to growing risks for crews as commercial shipping is increasingly exploited by criminal networks involved in drug trafficking.
Citing data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it said most global cocaine trafficking takes place by sea, leaving seafarers exposed to serious legal risks when narcotics are hidden on vessels without their knowledge.
The report said the highest-risk areas remain loading ports in Latin America and discharge ports in Western and Southern Europe, as well as the US.
What steps should be taken to ensure local prosecutors and courts apply international fair treatment guidelines for seafarers?
