Tag: safety

Seafarers should not have to choose between shore leave and rest

Posted on April 8, 2025 by -

No One Should Have to Choose Between Shore Leave and Rest – Stella Maris UK Urges ILO Action.

As the International Labour Organization (ILO) meets to consider changes to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) this week, leading maritime charity Stella Maris UK  is calling for urgent protections to stop seafarers being forced to choose between shore leave and adequate rest, a decision that no seafarer should have to make. 

“This should never be a choice,” said Tim Hill, CEO of Stella Maris UK. “But for many crew, it’s an unacceptable reality.  We regularly meet seafarers who are either denied shore leave on vague ‘operational’ grounds, or are too exhausted to go ashore even when permitted.” 

 A recent International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) report backs up what Stella Maris chaplains and ship visitors witness daily: shore leave is becoming harder to access, and many seafarers are sacrificing it out of necessity – not choice – due to relentless working hours. 

In one case, a crew was told not to leave the ship as they were needed to receive provisions – despite already working long hours.  In another, a crew on a detained vessel was denied shore leave for two weeks and told to keep working until repairs were complete.  When visited by a Stella Maris chaplain, they were visibly exhausted, demoralised and morale was very low. 

Elsewhere, crews showed signs of severe fatigue and deteriorating mental health.  One seafarer resigned due to stress, while others were considering breaking their contracts just to get home. 

“There are many ship operators who do the right thing and put crew welfare first,” Hill added. “But the erosion of shore leave and disregard for meaningful rest are having a clear and dangerous impact on crew wellbeing.  Without stronger safeguards and consistent enforcement, unsafe working conditions risk becoming the norm.  Adequate rest and access to shore leave must be treated as operational essentials, not optional extras. 

Stella Maris UK is calling on the ILO to  strengthen protections and tighten enforcement to ensure that seafarers don’t have to choose between rest and their right to shore leave. 

Over 32,000 fishers in Kenya and Thailand supported by Stella Maris

Posted on November 20, 2024 by -

On World Fisheries Day global maritime network Stella Maris is pleased to announce that more than 32,000 fishers in Thailand and Kenya are to benefit from targeted safety training thanks to a collaboration between Stella Maris and the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS).

Stella Maris works extensively with fishing communities in Kenya and Thailand. It has recently received two grants totalling nearly £57,000 from the IFFS. These grants will help provide training to artisanal and migrant fishers, and safety equipment to help ensure fishers can have fulfilling and safe careers.

Targeted safety training in Kenya

Fishing is a major source of income for over 70,000 people in Kenya. However, fishing remains a very dangerous occupation, with an estimated 1% of fishers in Kenya losing their lives each year. Many of these deaths could be prevented by better training and awareness of some of the most common causes, including drowning, exposure, drug and alcohol misuse, and hippo attacks.

The IFFS funding will enable Stella Maris Kenya to provide training to over 32,000 fishers in the country on the Great Lakes and coastal regions, working with the local government and Beach Management Units.

The programme is being jointly developed with the Kenyan Maritime Authority, which will help ensure that the training, messaging and advice given matches government and international regulatory standards.

Helping to save lives in Thailand

A second IFFS grant is being used to fund a health and safety, and life-saving training programme for hundreds of migrant fishers in East Thailand. Compared to their West Thailand counterparts, fishers based in East Thailand work from smaller boats and do not receive funding from large seafood industry organisations to help develop safety training programmes.

This lack of safety training has been a contributing factor in tragic accidents occurring at sea. Some crews do not receive any survival training and are not wearing life jackets at the time of an accident. Stella Maris Thailand has a strong presence in the region and, as the main local fishing and maritime charity, is there to support fishers and their families after such incidents.

Through the IFFS grant, Stella Maris Thailand will help deliver proper safety training to hundreds of migrant fishers in East Thailand, thereby saving lives and promoting better livelihoods.

Prioritising safety

Stella Maris CEO and National Director Tim Hill MBE said, “Fishing remains among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Many communities worldwide rely on fishing for their livelihoods and as a vital source of food and nutrition.

“Fishers’ lives, safety and welfare must always be put before profit. Safety training is an issue not just in developing countries, but a global challenge. Stella Maris is delighted to be partnering with the IFFS to enable our colleagues to deliver vital fisher safety and wellbeing programmes and training in Africa and Southeast Asia.”

IFFS Coordinator Alan McCulla OBE said, “World Fisheries Day serves as a poignant reminder of the vital role fishing communities play in ensuring global food security and sustaining millions of livelihoods. The International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) grants are making a tangible difference in these communities, exemplified by the impactful work of Stella Maris in countries like Kenya and Thailand with these initiatives focused on enhancing the safety and well-being of fishers. By providing resources and training, Stella Maris is improving safety and enhancing the livelihoods of these communities. These actions underscore the importance of supporting and empowering fishing communities worldwide, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met.”