The maritime industry is facing an alarming rise in the criminalization of seafarers, with senior officers and ship masters disproportionately affected. InterManager, the international trade association for ship management, has launched a campaign to address this growing crisis and advocate for seafarers' rights.
Ship masters are at the highest risk, making up 63% of criminalization cases. Tanker crews are most vulnerable, with 29% of incidents, followed by bulk carriers (19%) and general cargo vessels (14%). Seafarers are often detained unjustly, especially when drugs are found on board, and are frequently held without charge or proper legal representation.
One high-profile case is that of Polish Captain Andrzej Lasota, who was detained for 592 days in Mexico despite following proper protocols after cocaine was discovered on his ship. His release came only after a sustained campaign by his family and maritime organizations.
InterManager is collecting data on these incidents, with 118 cases documented globally between 1989 and 2024. The number of cases peaked in 2023 with 23 reported incidents, and 17 more have occurred in 2024. These cases are primarily concentrated in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
InterManager is calling for immediate action to address this issue at the highest levels, emphasizing that no seafarer should face unjust treatment while performing their duties.
