Day of the Seafarer 2025 Toward Harassment-Free Seas

By Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

On June 25, 2025, the global maritime community will unite to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer, honouring the 1.9 million maritime professionals who form the invisible backbone of international trade.

Yet this year’s observance carries unprecedented urgency, as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) launches its “My Harassment-Free Ship” campaign—a bold initiative addressing a crisis that has remained hidden beneath the waves for far too long.

Hidden Crisis at Sea

The statistics are stark and sobering. Research reveals that more than 50% of female seafarers have experienced harassment at sea, while a significant proportion of male seafarers also face bullying and discrimination.

These numbers represent more than data points—they reflect human suffering, shattered careers, and a maritime culture that has failed its most essential workforce.

The campaign’s launch comes at a critical moment when the industry grapples with severe seafarer shortages, anticipated to reach nearly 150,000 officers by 2025.

How can we address workforce shortages while simultaneously allowing harassment to drive talented individuals away from maritime careers? The contradiction is both stark and unsustainable.

Cultural Transformation

The IMO’s “My Harassment-Free Ship” initiative seeks to fundamentally transform maritime workplace culture through four strategic pillars:

Awareness: Bringing the reality of harassment at sea into the light, challenging the industry’s traditional silence around these issues.

Action: Promoting zero-tolerance policies that move beyond paper commitments to real, enforceable standards.

Accountability: Establishing safe and accessible reporting channels that protect seafarers from retaliation while ensuring proper investigation and consequences.

Support: Equipping seafarers with resources and assistance to navigate and combat harassment, including the new Interactive World Map highlighting available resources by flag state.

This comprehensive approach recognizes that addressing harassment requires more than policy changes—it demands a fundamental shift in maritime culture, leadership practices, and industry accountability.

African Maritime Perspective

For Africa, the Day of the Seafarer holds particular significance and unique challenges. The continent’s maritime sector represents immense untapped potential, with African seafarers poised to help address global workforce shortages. 

However, African seafarers continue to face barriers rooted in both gender and nationality, confronting systemic inequities that reveal the maritime industry is still far from equitable.

Recent research has highlighted the dual burden faced by African women entering maritime careers. Many African female seafarers struggle to accrue sea-time after completing their maritime training, as sea-time is a prerequisite to career advancement. 

Organizations like Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAfrica) work tirelessly to find job placements for these women, but structural barriers persist.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has noted concerning trends, including gender disparities, limited training opportunities, a shortage of qualified instructors, and concerns around psychological safety—all contributing to high dropout rates.

These challenges underscore why the harassment-free ship campaign is particularly vital for African maritime development.

Africa’s coastal nations and island states depend heavily on maritime trade for economic growth, yet the sector’s traditionally male-dominated environment has limited opportunities for half the population.

Creating harassment-free ships isn’t just about safety—it’s about unlocking Africa’s full maritime potential and ensuring sustainable industry growth.

Human Cost

Behind every harassment incident lies a human story of diminished dignity, compromised safety, and derailed dreams. 

Many incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation, career damage, or simple lack of faith in reporting systems. This silence perpetuates a cycle that normalizes unacceptable behaviour and drives talented individuals from maritime careers.

The emotional distress and career setbacks caused by harassment create ripple effects throughout the industry. 

When seafarers leave due to hostile work environments, the industry loses not only their skills but also the diversity of perspectives essential for innovation and growth.

Global Responsibility

The Day of the Seafarer reminds us that maritime safety extends far beyond technical regulations and equipment standards—it encompasses the fundamental human right to work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination.

This responsibility rests not only with individual ship operators but with the entire maritime ecosystem: flag states, port authorities, manning agencies, maritime training institutions, and international organizations.

The Interactive World Map launched as part of this campaign represents a practical step forward, but technology alone cannot solve cultural problems. Real change requires committed leadership at every level, from ship bridges to corporate boardrooms to government ministries.

Charting the Course Forward

As we observe the Day of the Seafarer 2025, we must move beyond celebration to commitment. The “My Harassment-Free Ship” campaign offers a roadmap, but success depends on industry-wide implementation. This means:

Stronger Policies: Moving from reactive responses to proactive prevention, with clear consequences for violations and robust support for victims.

Leadership Training: Equipping maritime leaders with the skills and tools to recognize, prevent, and address harassment effectively.

Global Collaboration: Sharing best practices across flag states, building consistent standards that transcend national boundaries.

Cultural Change: Fostering maritime workplaces where respect, dignity, and professionalism are non-negotiable standards.

For Africa specifically, this transformation represents an opportunity to leapfrog past traditional maritime industry challenges, building inclusive sectors from the ground up while contributing to global seafarer supply.

Maritime Future Worth

The Day of the Seafarer was established to recognize the unique contribution of maritime professionals to international trade, the world economy, and civil society.

This year, that recognition must extend to acknowledging their right to work without fear of harassment or discrimination.

The seafarers who keep global trade moving deserve nothing less than our unwavering commitment to their safety, dignity, and professional advancement.

The “My Harassment-Free Ship” campaign is more than an initiative—it’s a promise to the men and women who choose to make their careers at sea.

As ships traverse the world’s oceans carrying the goods that sustain our interconnected world, they must also carry a new culture of respect and inclusion. 

The Day of the Seafarer 2025 marks not just a celebration, but a turning point toward maritime workplaces worthy of the professionals who dedicate their lives to keeping global commerce afloat.

The journey toward harassment-free ships begins now. Every stakeholder in the maritime industry—from ship owners to port authorities, from maritime academies to flag state administrations—has a role to play in charting this new course.

The seafarers who power global trade deserve nothing less than our complete commitment to their safety, dignity, and professional success.

*The Day of the Seafarer (June 25) was established by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila and is recognized by the United Nations as an observance day. Its purpose is to recognize the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy, and civil society as a whole.*

The writer is a Maritime Affairs Analyst and Maritime Policy Advocate.