By GMM News | 2025-01-16 | International Shipping News |

InterManager, a global trade association for the ship management sector, has launched a campaign to address the growing issue of seafarer criminalisation.

It urges shipping companies, maritime organisations, and seafarers to share information about such cases to build a comprehensive database and find solutions at international levels.

The association is deeply concerned about the increasing mistreatment of seafarers in some regions. It has been observed that crew members, especially senior officers, are often unfairly detained when authorities find issues on their ships, such as hidden drugs.

These seafarers are frequently held without charges, denied proper legal representation, and detained for long periods.

InterManager is compiling data on criminalisation cases to share with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other stakeholders. The association has already identified 118 cases since 1989, with a sharp rise in recent years.

In 2023, 23 cases were reported, and 17 more have occurred in 2024.

According to InterManager, 63% of cases involve the ship’s master being imprisoned. Tanker crew members are most frequently targeted (29%), followed by bulk carrier (19%) and general cargo vessel (14%) crews.

Most incidents occur in Asia, but a significant number have also been reported in Europe and the Americas.

InterManager believes that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg. It is urging maritime professionals to report all known cases to ensure its data captures the full scope of the problem.

One of the most alarming cases is that of Polish Captain Andrzej Lasota. In 2020, he was arrested in Mexico after 240 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden in the coal cargo of his ship.

Despite reporting the drugs to authorities and halting cargo operations, Lasota was detained along with his crew.

While the crew was released after three months, Captain Lasota spent nearly two years in jail without trial. He faced charges of negligence and drug trafficking, risking a 20-year sentence.

Eventually, with support from his family, the Polish and Cypriot governments, and organisations like InterManager, he was released after 592 days in poor health, having lost a lot of weight during his imprisonment.

“This kind of treatment is unacceptable for someone simply doing their job,” said InterManager’s Secretary General, Captain Kuba Szymanski. He discussed the need to address such injustices at the highest levels.

InterManager is calling on the global shipping industry to collaborate in addressing seafarer criminalisation. It believes that sharing knowledge and experiences will help create effective solutions and prevent such cases in the future.

The association’s campaign, supported by its role within the IMO and the Human Element Industry Group, aims to use the collected data to use it for discussions and policy changes that protect seafarers’ rights.

“This is a global problem that requires a united response,” Szymanski said. “We encourage everyone in the maritime sector to contribute to this effort and ensure no seafarer surfers unfairly while doing their job.”

Reference: InterManager