“We are extremely pleased that the theme of the 2018 Day of the Seafarer is the important issue of seafarers’ wellbeing. SRI was set up to advance the rights of seafarers through engagement with the international maritime industry, and advocacy within the international legal framework. Through this work, we are continually reminded of the importance of the seafarer at the heart of our industry, and that efforts to represent the needs of the seafarer have to continue.
The world is changing rapidly and the pressures of commerce in the global marketplace are very often borne by those at the sharp end of our business. From the current pressures of cost cutting and an increasingly litigious world, to fears for the future with automation and increasing bureaucracy, the seafarer bears the brunt of the challenges faced by our industry.
Sadly the worth of the seafarer is not always felt by seafarers themselves, and many are increasingly fearful of their working environment. More than 70% of the seafarers who participated in our most recent survey into the fair treatment of seafarers were living with concerns about criminal charges.
We are delighted to see that in its 2018 programme the IMO has placed the seafarer firmly on the agenda. We urge all sectors of the international shipping community as a whole to support efforts to represent their interests, and to be continually aware of the seafarers’ important role – not just for the Day of the Seafarer but for 365 days of the year.”
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of SRI.
