ITF News Update
Indian Crew Stranded on Offshore Vessel Appeals for Assistance
A group of 15 Indian seafarers aboard the offshore support vessel Star Apollo in Indonesia have raised urgent concerns about their situation after reportedly going unpaid for months. Their plight underscores a growing crisis of seafarer abandonment that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is now characterizing as increasingly severe. The Star Apollo, a 1,500 gross ton vessel, has been docked at the Batamec Shipyard since October 2024. The crew members began their contracts just four to eight months ago but claim they have not received any wages during this entire period.
Indian Crew Stranded on Offshore Vessel Appeals for Assistance – Maritime Fairtrade
Fire stricken ONE container ship towed to anchorage in Port of LA
A fire started onboard the ONE Henry Hudson while at berth in the Port of LA has now been brought “substantially under control”. The container ship ONE Henry Hudson ablaze in the Port of Los Angeles has been towed to an anchorage as the fire is brought “substantially under control”. According to a statement issued by the US Coast Guard (USCG) on 23 November by 1:30pm on Sunday the fire had been isolated to a single cargo hold with a fire boat on the scene from the Port of Los of Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.
Crew Evacuated After Fire On Container Ship At Los Angeles Port
Nigeria arrests 20 Pinoy seafarers in drug bust
MANILA, Philippines — Nigeria’s drug enforcement agency on Friday said it had arrested 20 Filipino seafarers caught ferrying at least 20 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to Lagos’s main port.
Nigeria has long been considered a trafficking and production hub for drugs bound for Europe and other African countries. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it intercepted the shipment of top-grade cocaine on Sunday on board a Panama-registered vessel. The cocaine was buried under its cargo, NDLEA said in a statement. It did not state the type of cargo but said the vessel normally transports coal between Brazil and Colombia.
Nigeria arrests 20 Pinoy seafarers in drug bust | Philstar.com
Seafarer wellbeing should be next strategic priority for sustainable shipping reveals Seafarers Hospital Society report
The Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS) announced the launch of its critical new report, ‘The human heart of sustainable shipping: ‘Why seafarer wellbeing is the next strategic priority en route to net zero’. The report makes a powerful case that supporting seafarer health and wellbeing is no longer merely a welfare concern, but a business-critical strategy essential for the maritime industry to achieve its ambitious decarbonisation and digitalisation goals.
IMO commends PCG officers for women empowerment
MANILA – Two officers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) received letters of commendation from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for their efforts in women empowerment in the maritime sector. In a statement on Friday, PCG Spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said Rear Admiral Mitzie Silva-Campo and Commodore Christine Pauline Bergaño-Diciano received commendations under the IMO Gender Equality Award. The recognitions, she said, highlighted the Philippines’ growing leadership in promoting inclusivity and excellence in the global maritime community.
IMO commends PCG officers for women empowerment | Philippine News Agency
Norway Advocates for Increased Female Representation in Maritime
Despite strides toward gender equality, women constitute only 1.2% of the global seafarer workforce, underlining a critical need for heightened inclusivity in a male-dominated maritime industry. The evolving sector faces significant skills shortages, making the empowerment of women essential not just for equity but as a strategic necessity. Christian Halaas Lyster, the Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines, emphasized the importance of collective efforts to mainstream gender equality within the maritime industry during a recent event, where he noted that more women than ever are beginning to shape the sector.
Norway Advocates for Increased Female Representation in Maritime – Maritime Fairtrade
Culture change needed to increase number of women in shipping
The biggest problem is the access to sanitary products and medicine, and toilets for women. WOMEN seafarers make up just 1.2% of the global seafaring workforce, according to the International Maritime Organization, with their representation very low their problems are not made easily visible, creating a recruitment and retention crisis in the industry. “If you make the life of women easier on the ships or docks, the percentage of women seafarers will increase,” said International Transport Workers’ Federation global representative for women Lorena Pintor Silva.
Culture change needed to increase number of women … | myKN
Culture change needed to increase number of women in shipping
Women seafarers face many health and safety problems globally, and their problems are not seen as important by their employers. But to solve the recruitment and retention crisis, steps need to be taken. WOMEN seafarers make up just 1.2% of the global seafaring workforce, according to the International Maritime Organization, with their representation very low their problems are not made easily visible, creating a recruitment and retention crisis in the industry. “If you make the life of women easier on the ships or docks, the percentage of women seafarers will increase,” said International Transport Workers’ Federation women seafarers’ representative Lorena Pintor Silva.
Culture change needed to increase number of women in shipping :: Lloyd’s List
“A single lapse in vigilance can take a life”: IMO Bravery Award recipient
Acts of exceptional bravery at sea honoured at annual awards ceremony. Officer Lee Tae Young, a first mate from the Republic of Korea, has been awarded the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, in recognition of his heroic actions that saved 12 fellow crew members from the Geum Seong No. 135 when it sunk in November 2024. (Photo gallery) He was honoured during a special ceremony recognizing seafarers held in London on 24 November 2025, in the margins of the IMO Assembly taking place from 24 November to 3 December 2025.
“A single lapse in vigilance can take a life”: IMO Bravery Award recipient – All About Shipping
The hidden costs of shore leave neglect
The latest results from the Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) indicate that crew wellbeing is once more declining. According to Ben Bailey, Director of Programme at the Mission to Seafarers, a key problem driving this downturn – and one that is both symbolic and severely harmful – is the continued reduction of shore leave. Few people think about the workforce that makes global commerce possible, but nearly two million seafarers operate at the centre of it every single day.
The hidden costs of shore leave neglect – SAFETY4SEA
India Revamps Sign-On, Sign-Off & SLP Rules for Seafarers
India has recently abolished the long-standing requirements for sign-on, sign-off, and Shore Leave Passes (SLP) for Indian-flag vessels operating solely in domestic waters. This significant change was announced by the Union Home Ministry through a notice directed to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Previously, seafarers faced considerable challenges due to the obligation of appearing physically at immigration offices to obtain and renew SLPs every ten days. This procedure was disruptive to the normal operations aboard ships engaged in coastal operations.
India Revamps Sign-On, Sign-Off & SLP Rules for Seafarers – Maritime Fairtrade
Union Protests Decision to End Charter for Cook Strait Rescue Tug
Plans by the New Zealand government to terminate the services of a dedicated tugboat that has been aiding vessels – including aging interisland ferries – at the busy Cook Strait harbor has ignited uproar from a trade union, which argues the move could compromise safety. New Zealand Transport Minister Chris Bishop is on record stating that following the move by the government to award contracts for two new interisland ferries that will have “return to port” capabilities, the services for the MMA Vision tug might not be needed anymore.
Union Protests Decision to End Charter for Cook Strait Rescue Tug
Has the green transition been blown off course?
Lloyd’s List editor-in-chief Richard Meade asks what the COP30 failure and IMO deadlock mean for shipping’s global governance regime, plus we unpack the risk of a ‘zombie’ or ‘mutant’ Net-Zero Framework. CLIMATE diplomacy is not dead, but it’s not looking too healthy right now. A month after the International Maritime Organization‘s Net-Zero Framework was put on life support for a year in the hope that a cure could be found, many of the same politicians, negotiators, non-governmental organisations, claques and hacks still reeling from that setback headed to Brazil for this year’s COP climate summit.
Has the green transition been blown off course? :: Lloyd’s List
Seafarer shore leave still alarmingly out of reach despite positive ‘mood music’ from shipping
In ports around the world the right to step ashore is still out of reach for many seafarers, according to a newly released report from grant-funding body the ITF Seafarers’ Trust. It paints a troubling picture of persistent barriers to shore leave – years after Covid-19 restrictions eased. Deborah McPherson interviews the head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, Katie Higginbottom, on the latest findings. The latest report, Shore leave and the future of port-based welfare, is a companion report to a previous study of seafarers, this time with evidence gathered from seafarer centres which confirms shore leave is in an alarming state of decline.
Seafarer shore leave still alarmingly out of reach despite positive ‘mood music’ from shipping
Singapore Maritime Officers Union Marks 70 Years of Service
The 70th anniversary of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU), originally slated for 2021, was celebrated in 2022 due to pandemic delays. The gala dinner held to honor this milestone was attended by notable guests, including Singapore President Madam Halimah Yacob and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng. The event was themed “Because of You,” acknowledging the vital contributions of the union’s members and partners since its inception in 1951. In her welcome address, SMOU Secretary-General Mary Liew emphasized the importance of the collective effort of members and tripartite partners in reaching this significant anniversary.
Singapore Maritime Officers Union Marks 70 Years of Service – Maritime Fairtrade
New Flags of Convenience: Dominica, The Gambia, Niue
ITF adds three new flags to long-standing open registry list. Dominica, The Gambia and Niue are the latest flags added to the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF) long-standing ‘Flags of Convenience’ list. The three flags were added to the FOC list at a meeting of the ITF’s Fair Practices Committee – bringing together seafarers’ and dockers’ unions from around the world – in Athens, Greece, last week. The additions bring the total number of FOC flags to 48 countries.
https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/new-flags-convenience-dominica-gambia-niue
VIKAND highlights bullying and harassment as major mental health concern ahead of STCW amendment
VIKAND has highlighted the need for cultural change in the maritime sector as reports of bullying, harassment, and conflict at sea continue to rise. With new amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) set to take effect on 1st January 2026, explicitly addressing bullying and harassment, the global leader in maritime healthcare warns that, though welcome, regulations alone will not solve the problem unless companies also address the root causes: leadership culture, communication, and respect onboard.
Pertamina Shipping Collaborates with ITF on Mental Health Initiatives
Indonesia’s largest state-owned oil company, Pertamina International Shipping, has recently partnered with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Indonesian seafarers’ union, Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (KPI), to enhance mental health services for its crew members. This initiative involves a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this month, which aims to provide mental health training and outreach services over the next three years.
Pertamina Shipping Collaborates with ITF on Mental Health Initiatives – Maritime Fairtrade
Singapore Permits Crew Changes for Expired Seafarer Contracts
On May 22, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) issued a Port Marine Circular outlining enhanced measures for crew changes under specific circumstances, following ongoing cooperation with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU), Singapore Organisation for Seamen (SOS), and other stakeholders. The updated guidelines now permit crew changes when a seafarer’s contract has expired, provided that the departure does not compromise the safe manning levels of the vessel
Singapore Permits Crew Changes for Expired Seafarer Contracts – Maritime Fairtrade
India Leads in Abandoned Seafarers Amid Shipowner Negligence
The global economy relies heavily on maritime trade, accounting for over 80% of the world’s goods transported by sea. However, a significant issue lurks beneath this vital industry: the abandonment of seafarers. These maritime workers, crucial to international trade, often find themselves deserted in foreign ports, unpaid and forgotten. This crisis is not merely a moral failing but rather a systemic issue stemming from deficient maritime labor practices, especially affecting those from economically disadvantaged nations.
India Leads in Abandoned Seafarers Amid Shipowner Negligence – Maritime Fairtrade
Maersk: No timeline for Red Sea return
Maersk on Wednesday denied published reports that it has set a timeline to resume services through the Red Sea and Suez Canal shipping route. In a customer advisory, the world’s second-largest container line said “As the safety of crew, vessels and cargo remains our top priority, we currently have no specific timing to change the Gemini east-west network to sailing through the Red Sea.” Gemini is Maersk’s cooperative service arrangement with German carrier Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG.DE).
Maersk: No timeline for Red Sea return
China, India, and Brazil move on green shipping corridors as industry awaits climate regulations
27 November 2025, Copenhagen – The movement to create green shipping corridors – trade routes designed to demonstrate and scale novel zero-emission fuels, vessels, and technologies – has expanded in numbers and geographic scope, according to a new progress report published today by the Getting to Zero Coalition and the Global Maritime Forum. This year’s edition, At a Crossroads: Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors 2025, identifies 25 new green corridor initiatives, expanding the global total to 84 active initiatives.
Many voices, one ship: Navigating cross-cultural dynamics at sea
Communication is the backbone of life on board, both for daily operations and for safety. Yet, multinational crews often face challenges as people navigate diverse cultural norms and expectations. Despite the hurdles, seafarers find ways to connect, share ideas and even use humor to bridge gaps. Crew members differ in nationality, working style, age, ethnicity, gender and many other aspects of identity. Through verbal and nonverbal communication, they communicate and exchange ideas, learning to understand one another across cultural boundaries.
Many voices, one ship: Navigating cross-cultural dynamics at sea – SAFETY4SEA
UN maritime chief links rise of dark fleet to worker abuses
Seafarers face rising threats as shadow fleets and weak oversight of the industry endanger the backbone of global trade. The head of the United Nations’ maritime agency warned of a disturbing rise in the criminalisation of seafarers, driven by geopolitical tensions and a surge in substandard shipping practices linked to the so-called dark fleet operating outside international norms. Conflicts across the world that disrupt trade, growing operational costs and regulatory weaknesses have left thousands of seafarers in a 1.8 million person-strong workforce vulnerable.
UN maritime chief links rise of dark fleet to worker abuses | News | Eco-Business | Asia Pacific
Global Seafarer Shortage Threatens Shipping Industry Resilience
The shipping industry is currently facing a critical global shortage of seafarers, as highlighted in recent reports. Rhett Harris, a senior manning analyst at Drewry, emphasized that while the number of vessels has surged in recent years, the growth in the workforce has not matched this expansion. This disparity has forced companies to hire less experienced seafarers, particularly at higher ranks, including officers and engineers. Alarmingly, some employers are even promoting new hires directly into higher positions despite serious concerns regarding their experience and the authenticity of their resumes.
Global Seafarer Shortage Threatens Shipping Industry Resilience – Maritime Fairtrade
Flags of inconvenience: 113 vessels flying a false flag transported EUR 4.7 bn Russian oil in first three quarters of 2025
Every vessel sailing open seas is required to fly a flag that provides it with legal jurisdiction for its operations in international waters. Article 91 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows flag registries to ‘fix the conditions for the grant of its nationality to ships’ and grant them the right to fly its flag. These open registries — also known colloquially as flags of convenience — are favoured by shippers due to lower regulatory burdens and registration costs than closed registries, which also require a direct link between the vessel and the nation state.
Study finds $14 billion in annual losses from maritime chokepoint disruptions
A new study by the Univeristy of Oxford has estimated that disruptions at critical maritime chokepoints affect around $192 billion worth of maritime trade each year. Global trade routes are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the world’s narrow shipping passages, known as maritime chokepoints, face growing threats from both human and natural hazards. The researchers highlight that such disruptions lead to estimated economic losses of around $14 billion annually, resulting from delays, rerouting, higher insurance premiums and increased freight costs.
Study finds $14 billion in annual losses from maritime chokepoint disruptions – SAFETY4SEA
Interview: IMO chief says China has “big role” to play in global maritime cooperation
As one of the world’s leading shipbuilding countries, home to some of the largest ports and major shipping companies, and a major provider of seafarers, China contributes across the entire maritime value chain, said International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. by Xinhua writers Gao Wencheng, Yu Aicen LONDON, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) — China has an important role to play in strengthening global maritime cooperation and advancing the sustainable development of the shipping industry, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has said.
Interview: IMO chief says China has “big role” to play in global maritime cooperation-Xinhua
Shadow ports: how cutting off Russia’s access to maritime trade could help sanctions have real impact
The closest to a workable definition of the shadow fleet has been established by Lloyd’s List, but to take action on something, everybody needs to know what actually is that something. So, the first step must be an agreement on what the amorphous shadow fleet actually is. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleh Dunda and president of Auxilium Worldwide Ian Ralby argue for a more functional approach to Russian economic sanctions enforcement with a focus on access to ports as a key step.