On the Day of the Seafarer, our CEO, Tim Hill MBE was at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva sitting on a panel on the side lines of the 56th Session on the Human Rights Council. The panel on ‘Working and Living at Sea: Challenges and Risks to Seafarers’ Human Rights and Safety’ was organised by the Government of Republic of the Philippines in conjunction with the International Labour Organization. Tim’s fellow panellists included:
– Kristine S. – Ambassador & Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and panel moderator.
– Eduardo de Vega – Undersecretary (Deputy Minister) for Migration Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines.
– Guy Platten – Secretary General International Chamber of Shipping.
– Damien Chevallier – Chief of Staff International Maritime Organization.
– Fabrizio Barcellona – International Transport Workers’ Federation.
– Beatriz Vacotto – Head of the Marine Unit, International Labour Organization.
On behalf of the seafarers with whom our chaplains and volunteer ship visitors interact on a daily basis, Tim was able to voice their perspective on many of those challenges. His key message to the maritime industry was that they must put people first, and provide rewarding career opportunities and training, enabling individuals to develop, thrive and reach their full potential. Seafarers must be treated with dignity and not like commodities. They must be provided with fair pay, good living and work conditions, and reliable connectivity at sea, arguably a fundamental human right. This social contract must be supported by robust policies on health, safety, welfare, EDI, education, repatriation and shore leave. This will take leadership, effort and resources, but in the long run it will improve safety, morale and efficiency on board, but most importantly, it will assist recruiting and retention of the industry’s most prized asset, its people.
Separate to the above, Stella Maris UK also released this message for the Day of the Seafarer.
On this Day of the Seafarer, we celebrate the vital role of the 1.9 million seafarers around the world in driving international trade.
As an island nation, it’s essential that we also recognise the enormous personal sacrifices they make, often spending extended periods away from home, working in austere conditions and sometimes in danger, to move more than 80% of the world’s trade.
Today, we’re calling on the international maritime industry to invest more time and resources in improving the lived experience of seafarers with rewarding career structures and opportunities, robust policies for health, safety and welfare, mentoring, training and education, as well as fair remuneration, good living and working conditions, improved access to shore leave and reliable connectivity whilst at sea.
Excellent practices do exist, but more work needs to be done to embed a leadership culture that invests properly in its people, recognises their value and importance, and treats every individual with dignity. Not only will this improve the lives of seafarers, it will also create happier, healthier, more professional and capable crews operating safe and efficient ships, and it will increase recruitment and retention of the industry’s greatest asset.