International maritime organizations are unanimous in upholding the rights of seafarers, reaffirming their commitment to fair treatment, due process, and coordinated action to protect maritime professionals.

This comes amid reports that thousands of seafarers are languishing in jails across various countries, including five Filipinos incarcerated in Algeria after being sentenced to 15 years in prison.

They were among eight seafarers arrested in July 2023 after Algerian authorities discovered 35.8 kilograms of alleged cocaine on board MV Harris, a Maltese-flagged container vessel.

During a recent meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, United Kingdom, the IMO — together with the International Labor Organization (ILO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) — reiterated that seafarers detained in connection with their professional duties must be treated fairly and with dignity, and in full respect of their human rights.

The groups also emphasized due process and the need for seafarers to be swiftly repatriated to their families in accordance with the IMO/ILO guidelines, noting that the unfair criminalization of seafarers continues to pose a major concern to the maritime industry and undermines confidence.

“Global trade depends on the people — the seafarers — who are onboard ships day in, day out. The well-being of seafarers must remain a shared global priority. Stronger legal protections, increased awareness, and continued collaboration across the maritime community are essential,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

For Corinne Vargha, Director of the ILO International Labor Standards Department, the ratification and enforcement of the Maritime Labor Convention is key to protecting seafarers from criminalization.

“Let’s continue to join forces to ensure that good practices on the implementation of the IMO/ILO guidelines are shared and prosecutors and judges are made aware of the particularities of the work of seafarers, essential to ensure their fair treatment. ILO remains committed to using all the mechanisms at its disposal to support seafarers faced with these dreadful situations,” Vargha said.

 Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the ICS, also pledged continued cooperation.

“I look forward to carrying on the vital work that my predecessor Guy Platten has been leading and continuing to collaborate with our partners at the IMO, ILO, and ITF – it is of the utmost importance. Strengthened cooperation across the maritime industry is vital to safeguard our seafarers against unfair criminalization – seafarers should not be the victims of such actions and must be supported. This is for the betterment of the whole maritime sector and the movement of global trade,” Kazakos said.

ITF Secretary General Stephen Cotton called the situation a growing crisis that requires immediate action.

“We need to move beyond policy and into implementation because while the Guidelines exist, too many governments are still falling short. As industry leaders, we have a shared responsibility to push for enforcement, to collect the data, and to hold the industry accountable. This crisis demands joint, sustained action from all industry stakeholders to ensure seafarers are treated fairly and protected. The power to protect seafarers lies in our joint voice, with the IMO, ILO, ICS and ITF united – we can drive the change that seafarers need and deserve," Cotton said.

The event also featured case studies from stakeholders in seafarer, port, supply chain, and shipowner communities.

The IMO and ILO, with support from industry partners through the ILO–IMO Tripartite Working Group, have adopted Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Connection with Alleged Crimes.

Approved by the IMO Legal Committee (LEG 112) in April, the guidelines address due process, protection from arbitrary detention, coercion, and intimidation, while also ensuring that wages, medical care, and repatriation rights are protected throughout legal proceedings.

The guidelines also aim to improve coordination among port States, flag States, coastal States, countries of seafarer nationality, as well as shipowners and seafarers.