Day of the Seafarer 2025 | 25 June
Every year on 25 June, the global maritime community marks the Day of the Seafarer—a time to honour the vital role seafarers play in keeping global trade and transport moving. This year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a powerful new campaign: My Harassment-Free Ship. This bold initiative aims to foster a maritime culture defined by respect, safety, and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at sea.
My Harassment-Free Ship is more than a slogan—it’s a commitment to changing the lived reality of countless seafarers. Many still face unacceptable behaviour onboard, often in isolated, high-pressure environments where harassment can go unnoticed or unreported. With this campaign, the IMO is calling on the entire industry to break the silence, challenge harmful norms, and promote a future where every ship is a safe and supportive workplace.
The campaign encourages action at every level of the maritime world. Seafarers are invited to share their experiences and lend their voices to a growing global conversation. Shipping companies are urged to review their internal policies, strengthen onboard training, and enforce zero-tolerance standards consistently and transparently. Maritime organisations are also being called upon to advocate for seafarers’ rights and provide platforms for support, education, and reform.
Raising awareness is at the heart of this initiative. The IMO’s campaign seeks to shine a light on the prevalence of harassment at sea and to drive proactive change through industry-wide accountability. Safe, confidential reporting channels are essential to this transformation, along with practical resources that empower seafarers to stand up for themselves and one another.
This year’s Day of the Seafarer is not only a celebration—it’s a turning point. Through My Harassment-Free Ship, the IMO is sending a clear message: everyone has the right to work in an environment free from harassment. Every stakeholder in the maritime industry has a role to play in building ships—and a culture—where dignity, respect, and human rights come first.
Together, we can create lasting change. Let this be the year we chart a new course toward a safer, more respectful future at sea.
Learn more and get involved:
imo.org/en/About/Events/Pages/Day-of-the-Seafarer-2025.aspx
Source: https://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/Pages/Day-of-the-Seafarer-2025.aspx