"Seafarers face rising threats as shadow fleets and weak oversight of the industry endanger the backbone of global trade."
"NICE, France - The head of the United Nations' maritime agency warned of a disturbing rise in the criminalisation of seafarers, driven by geopolitical tensions and a surge in substandard shipping practices linked to the so-called dark fleet operating outside international norms.
Conflicts across the world that disrupt trade, growing operational costs and regulatory weaknesses have left thousands of seafarers in a 1.8 million person-strong workforce vulnerable.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is "very concerned" about worsening conditions for workers, its secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, told Context.
Governments must do more to ensure fair treatment and due process for seafarers caught in the growing web of unregulated shipping practices, he said."
Katie McQue reports for Thomson Reuters Foundation November 18, 2025.
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