The IMO Legal Committee (LEG) is meeting for its 111th session at IMO Headquarters in London. It will be announcing important initiatives on the abandonment of seafarers and the fair treatment of seafarers, in addition to discussing other key issues.
Abandonment of seafarers
There has been an alarming rise in the number of cases of abandonment reported to IMO, with a considerable number of cases still unresolved. In 2023, 142 new cases were reported, compared to 109 incidents in 2022, 95 in 2021 and 85 cases in 2020. Previously, between 40 to 55 incidents were reported each year between 2017 and 2019, while a range of 12 to 19 cases were reported per year between 2011 and 2016.
The Committee is expected to establish a new task force to review and update the joint ILO/IMO abandonment database. This work will then be submitted for further consideration by the Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group to identify and address seafarers’ issues and the human element (JTWG).
Fair treatment of seafarers detained on suspicion of committing maritime crimes
In the global shipping industry, the rights of seafarers to due process must be protected as they cross multiple jurisdictions across the world. However, the unfair treatment of seafarers when detained on suspicion of committing maritime crimes remains a serious issue. It poses a threat to future sustainability of the sector, negatively affecting the morale of seafarers and recruitment of qualified young people into the seafaring profession.
The Committee is expected to finalize draft Guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers detained on suspicion of committing maritime crimes, to be submitted as a base text to the Joint IMO-ILO Tripartite Working Group for consideration and refinement.
