Seafarers caught between crime, criminalization and conflict

May 29 ------ Out at sea, conditions can appear calm and routine. But for the men and women who keep global trade moving, that calm can quickly give way to danger, BIMCO highlights in its latest campaign film.

BIMCO’s ongoing “Seafarers Deserve Fair Seas” campaign, seeks to highlight the risks faced by crews at sea and promote fairer treatment and stronger protections. The initiative focuses on raising awareness of issues ranging from unjust imprisonment to exposure to conflict-related violence.

As global trade continues to depend on maritime transport, industry voices say greater attention to seafarer welfare will be essential to ensuring a safer and more sustainable future at sea.

Seafarers transport nearly 12.5 billion tons of goods each year, including oil, iron ore, grain, and other commodities essential to daily life. Global shipping trade was valued at an estimated $16.8 trillion in 2023, underscoring just how critical maritime transport is to the world economy.

Yet behind those figures lies a profession exposed to a wide range of risks, from severe weather and collisions to piracy, armed conflict, and even criminal prosecution.

One of those seafarers is Andre Lasota, who began his career in 1969 at just 14 years old and later became a ship captain. In 2019, a routine voyage from Colombia to Mexico ended in crisis when suspicious cargo was discovered on board without the crew’s knowledge.

Mexican authorities later confirmed the shipment contained 240 kilograms of cocaine. Shortly after arriving in port, the vessel was raided by armed forces, and the entire crew was detained.

Lasota was held responsible as shipmaster for the illegal cargo. He spent nearly two years in prison without trial, describing overcrowded conditions and severe hardship.

After 20 months, a judge ultimately dismissed all charges, finding him not guilty. He retired following the ordeal. His case is not isolated. One maritime source estimates that at least 96 seafarers have faced criminalization since 2020.

Beyond legal risks, seafarers are also increasingly exposed to geopolitical conflict. During the 2026 Middle East conflict, more than 20,000 seafarers were reportedly stranded in the Persian Gulf, with at least 10 killed as a result of hostilities.

Jakob Larsen, Chief Safety and Security Officer at BIMCO, says these risks are becoming harder to separate from everyday commercial operations at sea. "Seafarers are a vital part of underpinning our way of life. Around 80% of the world’s goods are transported by sea. They face risks ranging from bad weather, collisions and groundings, to political risks such as armed conflict." Jakob Larsen highlighted.

In 2022, a cargo vessel bound for Italy was caught in crossfire during the war in Ukraine while waiting to load cargo at the port of Olvia. A missile strike damaged the ship and killed one of its engineers.

Calls are now growing for stronger protections for seafarers and improved coordination between governments and maritime authorities.

Larsen argues that responsibility lies primarily with states to reduce exposure to risk and improve safeguards for crews operating in conflict-affected waters. He also points to gaps in communication between authorities that can leave seafarers vulnerable in crisis situations. “Communication between different authorities and governments could probably improve quite a lot,” he said.

He added that the human element of global trade is often overlooked. "When people see big ships passing by, they don’t necessarily think about the people working hard to keep that ship going. It’s actually people that are involved here, and people matter." said Larsen.

Source: safety4sea.com