Today, June 25, is Global Day of the Seafarer.
The theme this year is a call for society at large to recognise seafarers’ contribution to world trade, commerce, transport and to their protection and support.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation, representing seafarers, in a statement marking the day, says that “seafarers are often unfairly blamed and convicted when their vessel is involved in a maritime incident, or suspected and accused wrongly".
"Criminalisation of seafarers is too often used by authorities to label seafarers."
InterManager, the only organisation dedicated to representing the ship management industry, also says that seafarers should not face criminal prosecution without substantive evidence. “The threat of prosecution from a criminal investigation should never be held against an individual seafarer where there is no evidence against them."
The worldwide Mission to Seafarers says that "today the world should note and celebrate the brave men and women who work tirelessly at sea, often unseen, yet absolutely essential to our daily lives.
"Seafarers transport over 90% of global trade, and without them, supermarket shelves, our fuel tanks, and food cupboards would sit empty."
