People of the Sea

Millions of people depend on the sea for their livelihoods. Those who live or work in coastal regions or onboard ship are People of the Sea.

Seafarers form a significant sector. We use the term “seafarer” for all who live and work on the high seas including those on merchant ships, fishing vessels, and cruise ships whether employed in ship handling or hospitality. However, other organisations use the term differenly, excluding those who work in fishing.

By the nature of their work, seafarers spend weeks or months at a time at sea. This separates them from their families and communities who are, by association, People of the Sea. The income gained from seafaring can bring benefits to all. But all must endure the long periods of separation, communication difficulties and uncertainties of the seafaring life.

Coastal communities, including those engaged in coastal fishing and shipping and workers in coastal facilities, are also People of the Sea. Their lives and livelihoods are threatened by maritime disasters: pollution, over-fishing and natural phenomena such as the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. And yet their lives are also nourished by the sea: the beauty of nature, the harvest of fish and the cultural enrichment that comes from receiving visitors from other shores.

The lives of all People of the Sea are closely linked. In different ways, they are affected by the same issues. Globalisation, economic pressure, and new technology have brought significant changes to their lives in recent years.

Seafarers of different nationalities in the telephone room of the Ecumenical Seafarers' Centre, port of Immingham, Great Britain.

Seafaring today

In the past, maritime companies were often family businesses. There was a working relationship between ship owners and the seafarers they employed. Today, globalisation means that crews are more likely to come from countries where labour is cheap. Manning agencies organise recruitment and contracts. There may be little or no contact between ship owners and the men and women who live and work on their ships.

Automation of many aspects of ship operation has led to crew reductions. This means that individual seafarers must accept greater levels of responsibility. With as few crew as possible to handle a ship, opportunities are limited for coming together to eat or to relax. At the same time, seafarers often share cramped quarters and lack privacy.

There is pressure to maximise the ship use and minimise port dues, i.e. the tariff paid for time spent in port. Therefore ships are likely to spend as short a time as possible in port, sometimes less than twelve hours. Economic pressures have also led to job losses among dock workers in many countries. Now seafarers themselves take part in the discharging of cargo.

Consequently, seafarers may have little or no free time ashore. Possibilities are limited for shopping and leisure especially as modern ports are usually far from town centres. Short turnaround times mean even fewer opportunities to contact family and friends at home.

Ship to shore communications technology is developing all the time. However use of onboard satellite telephones or email, where they exist, is likely to be strictly limited to officers or for business purposes only. The majority of seafarers rely on public telephones, email stations and the postal system for contact with families.

Seafarers check their emails at Ecumenical Seafarers' Centre, port of Immingham, Great Britain.

Lack of access to communications can cause a sense of isolation. Where crews are drawn from various countries, there may be barriers of differring cultures, languages and religions. Seafarers may find it difficult to discuss personal concerns or share hopes and ideas with their colleagues. They are especially vulnerable to feelings of loneliness.

In many sectors, the drive for profit may result in men and women being treated, not as human beings, but as machines. Human dignity is disregarded in the “race to the bottom” in terms of salaries and working conditions. In the maritime sector, lack of transparency over ownership and accountability exacerbates these problems. Unscrupulous owners are able to hide behind Flags of Convenience.

click here to read more about Flags of Convenience and other threats to seafarers

Seafarers’ rights

Since 1920, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the United Nations has adopted numerous maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations. These aimed to guarantee acceptable standards in areas such as recruitment of seafarers; working hours and wages; health and safety onboard; and welfare and social security. Unfortunately many of these Conventions had little force in international law as certain signatory countries failed to ratify them.

In February 2006, the Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention was adopted by the ILO. This brings together the issues covered by various earlier Conventions. The Consolidated Convention represents significant progress in the field of seafarers’ rights. In order to be effective, the Convention must be ratified by at least 30 ILO member States with a combined share of the world gross tonnage of 33%.

click here to read more about the Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention
click here to read more about fishers’ rights