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As the International Labour Organization (ILO) meets to consider changes to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), leading maritime charity\u202fStella Maris UK\u202fis 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis should never be a choice,\u201d said Tim Hill, CEO of Stella Maris UK. \u201cBut for many crew, it\u2019s an unacceptable reality. \u202fWe regularly meet seafarers who are either denied shore leave on vague \u2018operational\u2019 grounds, or are too exhausted to go ashore even when permitted.\u201d<\/p>\n
A recent International Transport Workers\u2019 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 \u2013 not choice \u2013 due to relentless working hours.<\/p>\n
In one case, a crew was told not to leave the ship as they were needed to receive provisions \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many ship operators who do the right thing and put crew welfare first,\u201d Hill added. \u201cBut 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.\u202fAdequate rest and access to shore leave must be treated as operational essentials, not optional extras.<\/p>\n
Stella Maris UK is calling on the ILO to strengthen protections and tighten enforcement to ensure that seafarers don\u2019t have to choose between rest and their right to shore leave.<\/p>\n