IMO Adopts Guidelines to Protect Seafarers’ Rights Against Unfair Detention at Sea

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recently adopted new guidelines aimed at protecting seafarers from unfair treatment when detained in foreign jurisdictions for alleged crimes committed at sea. These guidelines, developed by the Legal Committee during a meeting in London, focus on ensuring seafarers’ rights, including due process, protection from arbitrary detention, coercion, and intimidation, as well as maintaining their wages, medical care, and repatriation rights during legal proceedings. The goal is to promote fairness and dignity for seafarers worldwide and improve coordination among countries, shipowners, and seafarers.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized the importance of these guidelines in addressing the growing incidents of unjust treatment of seafarers, which can impact the sustainability of the shipping industry and deter young talent from pursuing careers at sea. The guidelines are seen as a valuable tool in resolving challenges faced by seafarers and ensuring their fair treatment. Additionally, the Legal Committee called for action to address the rise in seafarer abandonment cases, urging member states to report such incidents and improve financial security protections for seafarers.

In addition to the focus on seafarers’ rights, the Legal Committee approved a proposal to conduct a regulatory scoping exercise to review IMO conventions and tools available to member states to prevent unlawful operations in the shipping industry. A correspondence group will be established to work on this initiative, with the aim of developing actions to address substandard shipping practices. The Committee will also work on developing guidelines for ship registration, addressing liability and compensation for alternative fuels, and addressing maritime security threats in the coming year. Furthermore, the IMO sub-committee on Human Element, Training, and Watchkeeping adopted interim guidelines for training seafarers working on ships powered by alternative fuels and new technologies to address safety risks associated with sustainable fuels.

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