My Harassment-Free Ship: Day of the Seafarer 2025

Once again, the Day of the Seafarer is almost upon us and of course we’re going to explore this year’s theme with our annual blog post on the subject. So, whether you’re someone who works in a maritime job on land, a seafarer who works at sea or offshore, or just someone interested in all things nautical, carry on reading.

In this blog post we’re going to take a look at this year’s Day of the Seafarer (AKA DotS) theme and take a deep dive into the reasons behind it and, more importantly, explain how you can get involved.

What is the Day of the Seafarer all about?

First, a quick recap for anyone who isn’t sure what this day is all about.

The Day of the Seafarer, observed annually on June 25th, was created following a resolution passed at the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila, which also saw the adoption of updates to the STCW Convention.

This international day is dedicated to acknowledging the vital role seafarers play in global maritime trade, the broader economy, and society at large.

The resolution urges governments, maritime organizations, shipping companies, and other stakeholders to actively support and meaningfully celebrate the occasion.

Recognized by the United Nations, the Day of the Seafarer serves as a formal reminder of the essential contributions of seafarers worldwide.

The reason the Day of the Seafarer has a theme

Each year the Day of the Seafarer has a different theme. Themes are usually topical and relevant to whatever is going on in the world, particularly as it pertains to working at sea. For example, in 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the theme was ‘Seafarers are Key Workers.’

This highlighted the fact that whilst key workers such as people working in healthcare, retail, the emergency services and transportation were, quite rightly, recognized as essential in keeping the world turning, seafarers were very much forgotten about by the general public. Despite spending vastly extended periods onboard their vessels while still keeping the global supply chain moving.

In 2023, the campaign related to the Day of the Seafarer was created to align with the World Maritime Day theme which was “MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on”.

This looked at seafarers' contribution to protecting the marine environment, given that the men and women who live and work on commercial ships spend a good proportion of their life at sea.

Last year, the theme was safety at sea with a focus on the essential role seafarers play in ensuring a safer maritime industry. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) asked those who work in a maritime job to share photographs of them abiding by safety guidelines as well as their top safety tips at sea, whether it's to do with the protective gear they use or the training they've undergone.

(And it goes without saying that safety at sea is less of a topical theme and more of an all-day-every-day concern!)

a seafarer working in a maritime job wearing safety gear

Meanwhile, if you’d like to explore more about earlier DotS themes, you can check out this page on the IMO’s website.

So that leads us nicely on to...

What is the 2025 Day of the Seafarer theme?

As you’ve probably already guessed from the title of this blog post, this year’s DotS theme is My Harassment-Free Ship. As the IMO explains, this is “...a bold initiative to promote a culture of respect and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at sea.”

Why the theme this year? That’s because, like many workplaces, ships – whether they’re the most luxurious cruise liner or a rugged container ship, are not immune to workplace bullying and discrimination.

Seafarers play a critical role in keeping global trade moving, but far too many encounter bullying, discrimination, and harassment while at sea. Research indicates that more than half of women working in the maritime sector, not to mention a notable portion of their male colleagues, have been subjected to such mistreatment.

a female electrician working in a maritime job on a ship

And this has a serious knock-on effect, potentially jeopardizing their safety, mental health, and professional growth. Therefore, it's essential that the maritime industry takes concrete steps to create safe, inclusive, and respectful working environments for all, regardless of gender, race, religion, background, beliefs...you get the picture. The list goes on.

What does the My Harassment-Free Ship campaign hope to achieve?

The IMO has laid out several goals that this year’s Day of the Seafarer campaign wants to achieve. In their own words, these are:

To raise awareness about the reality of harassment at sea.

To promote proactive industry action to implement zero-tolerance policies.

To encourage reporting and accountability through safe and accessible channels.

To equip seafarers with resources and support to navigate and combat harassment.

But of course, to achieve these aims, it is crucial that the challenges of preventing bullying and harassment at work are understood. So, what is the reality? The problems are:

A sizable proportion of incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation.

Many seafarers have a lack of trust in the reporting systems available to them.

Companies need to implement stricter policies and leadership training.

Collaboration between companies, organizations, and the people within them is needed to ensure real change.

In short, it’s time for everyone – from CEO to Chief Officer and from Crew Manager to Bosun – to do the right thing and encourage others to do the same.

a ship's cook and an officer with their arms round each other on deck

How can you get involved in the My Harassment-Free Ship campaign?

So how do YOU take that action?

Whether you work in a shore-based maritime job, in a seafarer job at sea or offshore, at a maritime organization or company, or you’re someone who is interested in the shipping industry and in equality and fairness in the workplace, the good news is, there are ways you can get involved.

The IMO is encouraging seafarers, maritime industry professionals, and organizations to show their support for a harassment-free workplace – be that an office, a shipyard, a port, or a vessel – by:

Showcasing your company’s best practices and initiatives that promote inclusivity.

Encouraging open discussions and more accountability with coworkers, friends and acquaintances across the industry.

Sharing your insights and experiences of helping to create a culture of respect at sea.

And don’t forget to tag any posts you put on social media, whether it’s a company page or your personal account with the Day of the Seafarer 2025 official hashtag: #MyHarassmentFreeShip

You’ll be in good company if you do, as part of the IMO’s campaign this year is to utilize seafarers who also happen to be social media influencers. This will include maritime vloggers, industry advocates, and crew members with significant online followings from around the world to spread awareness directly to seafarers.

Hey, you probably know who some of them are!

a smiling female seafarer looking at her phone while working on a ship

The aim is to enable other seafarers to hear from their peers through social media posts and videos about the importance of actively encouraging a fair and bullying-free workplace for all.

Day of the Seafarer: MY Harassment-Free Ship – conclusion

ALL places of work should be inclusive, fair and professional. From shops and offices to hospitals and police stations, and from container ships to cruise ships. So why should seafarers be subjected to bullying and discrimination when they’re working at sea?

The simple answer is: they shouldn’t. The reality is that many of them are.

That’s where you can help bring about change. So, to recap:

Seafarers: Share your stories and be part of the movement.

Shipping companies: Implement – or strengthen - policies and onboard training.

Maritime organizations: Support and advocate for seafarers’ rights.

Crucially, change will only be effected if everyone practices what they preach, puts their money where their mouth is and actively becomes part of the solution – not part of the problem.

Final thought: Seafarers sacrifice a lot and work extremely hard to keep the global supply chain moving. Don’t they deserve safety, respect and happiness, while they’re at work?