To mark this year’s Day of the Seafarer on 25th June, our CEO Tim Hill MBE and Chair of Trustees Esteban Pacha have sent this letter to His Excellency Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization. Here’s the text of the letter.
Dear Secretary General,
On behalf of Stella Maris, the maritime charity of the Catholic Church, we express our full support
for this year’s Day of the Seafarer campaign “My Harassment-Free Ship.”
We welcome the IMO’s clear message that there is no place for violence or harassment at sea.
Every seafarer deserves to work in an environment where they are treated with dignity and
respect.
The values you outlined; humility, patience, listening, respect and accountability, align with the
values that guide our work. Through our network of chaplains and volunteer ship visitors, we
regularly support seafarers who have experienced isolation, bullying or abuse on board. Some
share their experiences openly, others feel unable to speak out. In both cases, the impact on their
mental health, morale and the wider onboard culture can be significant.
We know that early intervention, education and access to support networks make a real difference,
and we are particularly encouraged by your focus on listening to seafarers’ voices and learning
from their stories.
We also welcome the planned changes to the STCW Code to ensure all seafarers are trained in
preventing and addressing harassment. Alongside this, the development of accessible support
networks will give crew members the confidence to raise concerns and seek help when needed.
Stella Maris remains committed to supporting seafarers’ welfare and promoting dignity at sea. We
will continue to offer pastoral care and practical assistance to all seafarers and to encourage a
culture of respect and accountability throughout the maritime sector.
We are pleased to support the My Harassment-Free Ship campaign and look forward to working
with the IMO and other partners to help build a maritime industry where every seafarer can work
without fear of harassment. Please be assured of our ongoing support.