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Each month, we will be sharing a discussion piece written by a guest author from the maritime sector who can offer a unique or interesting perspective on an aspect of seafarers’ welfare. You can join the conversation on our social media channels – Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

This month, Senior Researcher Ralph Mamiya discusses the challenges posed by maritime migration for seafarers and the work of the Centre for Humanitarian Action for Sea, including its latest anonymous survey to collect seafarers’ perspectives.

Every day around the world, the merchant marine shares key waterways with people fleeing conflict and instability. Many of these people are refugees travelling in dangerous conditions aboard rickety vessels. These perilous journeys often result in tragic outcomes, raising critical questions about the responsibilities and readiness of those at sea. Are captains and crews ready to deal with maritime migrants if they encounter vessels-in-distress? Are their moral or legal obligations clear? Have they received adequate training? Are they receiving sufficient support from companies/operators, coast guards, or flag states? These are some of questions recently raised by the Centre for Humanitarian Action at Sea, which is currently circulating an anonymous survey for seafarers.

2023 was the deadliest year on record for maritime migrants, with more than 8,500 deaths recorded by the International Organization for Migration. Since 2014, more than 26,000 people have been reported dead or missing at sea. Hundreds of people make dangerous sea crossings in the Mediterranean, English Channel, Gulf of Aden, Andaman Sea, Caribbean Sea, and other high-traffic shipping lanes around the world. Despite the high numbers, the plight of these individuals often goes unnoticed by the wider public, underscoring the need for greater awareness and action.

Commercial shipping has a potential role to play in averting such tragedy. Richard Watts, who has decades of experience in the shipping industry and co-founded the Centre for Humanitarian Action at Sea, notes that the role of seafarers in rescue is almost as old as seafaring itself: ‘Today, international law recognizes a duty to rescue vessels in distress, but seafarers have recognized this duty for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years. This may be as simple as notifying the appropriate search-and-rescue authorities, or a ship’s captain may decide that the safety of life at sea requires more direct action.’ Understanding and helping to support these age-old codes for the safety of life at sea is a focus of the Centre.

Maritime migration has also attracted controversy. As described by Caroline Abu Sa’Da, the Centre’s co-founder, ‘too often, when people discuss migrants and refugees at sea, the discussion becomes polarized. People have strong feelings but this leads to hardened positions and unproductive conversations.’ Ms. Abu Sa’Da established the Centre with the goal of bringing together different actors – governments, humanitarian organizations and commercial shipping – to find practical solutions: ‘We felt it was important to focus on practical issues that seafarers face every day. There are plenty of places where people can debate abstract policy. But we cannot forget that seafarers are faced with real-time, life-and-death decisions – it’s not theoretical for them.’

The Centre held its first dialogue with a variety of groups in October 2023. This event, hosted at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva, Switzerland, brought together governments, the United Nations, and maritime rescue actors. These discussions established the basis for a forward workplan that will be followed up in November 2024. The Centre will coordinate policy and operational expertise on rescue at sea, with plans to become a hub for comprehensive analysis and improved data collection. Such initiatives are crucial for creating a unified and effective response to the challenges posed by maritime migration.

A key step in addressing these challenges is better understanding the views of seafarers. Too often, the commercial maritime community is left out of discussions on rescue at sea and maritime migration. To address this gap, the Centre has prepared a survey for distribution within the maritime community. The short, multiple-choice survey consists of 13 questions covering basic information (region of operation, maritime role, vessel type and size); concerns regarding encountering migrants (safety of crew and vessel, risk of standoffs or diversions, risks of criminalization, etc.); how well trained and equipped seafarers feel to assist migrants at sea; and any suggestions or requests for improving the impacts on maritime migration on seafarers. These responses are anonymous, and they provide valuable information for understanding the role and needs of the merchant marine. By participating, seafarers will contribute to a critical body of knowledge that can drive policy and operational improvements.

The survey can be found here in English, Arabic, Chinese, Filipino, and Russian. The Centre welcomes and encourages all ISWAN readers to fill out and circulate the survey. There is no maritime role that is too high or low and responses are sought from all sectors within the industry.

As Mr. Watts noted, ‘maritime migration is a fact on the high seas every day, it is essential that seafarers are a part of this conversation.’ By participating in this survey, seafarers can provide crucial insights that help shape practical policies and support mechanisms. Their firsthand experiences are invaluable in developing effective strategies to address the complexities of maritime migration. Engaging with this initiative is not only a contribution to their own safety and preparedness but also a vital step towards a more coordinated and humane approach to rescue at sea.