Support for...
Discrimination or harassment on board
What should your next steps be?
If you are experiencing discrimination or harassment on board...
Keep a record. If you do decide to report the behaviour you will be able to give a full picture. It will help you explain to other people, and may be useful to you personally in the future when you look back. One minor comment or incident might just be a one off, and not be considered harassment, but repeated instances would be. Here the UK P&I Club give some helpful advice.
If you can, tell someone. A trusted crewmember either onboard or on leave, a friend, a union representative, a helpline or Contact Us.
Find your company’s policy on harassment, discrimination and bullying.
As of 2025, the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention continues to require all ratifying states to take measures to protect seafarers from bullying, harassment, and abuse on board. The latest amendments introduce important changes, with a clearer and more explicit focus on sexual harassment and sexual assault at sea. These changes strengthen expectations on shipowners and operators to move beyond policy and take practical steps to prevent and respond to these issues — including implementing accessible and confidential reporting procedures, safeguarding against victimisation or retaliation, and ensuring that incidents are handled appropriately and consistently.
Further detail on these changes can be found on pages 4, 5 and 6 here .
The Convention is supported by industry guidance such as the Guidance on Eliminating Shipboard Harassment and Bullying, developed by Nautilus International and jointly published by the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Chamber of Shipping.
Recent updates led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency mean that cadet training and STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR) courses now include mandatory learning on preventing and responding to violence, including sexual harassment and sexual assault at sea, strengthening how future seafarers are prepared for safer onboard environments (see MCA MiM here).
Safer Waves Training - Get in touch to strengthen your cadet and crew training in this critical area — we’re here to support you.
The combined ICS and ITF guidance is a key resource and should
be onboard every vessel that falls under MLC
What happens when you contact us?
Step 1
Send us an email
If you need support, reach out to us confidentially at support@saferwaves.org. You are free to share as much or as little information as you're comfortable with - your privacy and security are our priority.
Step 2
Get support within 3 days
Our team will carefully review your email and respond within 3 days, offering the emotional support you need and guidance for the next steps. We're here to help you move forward at your own pace.
Step 3
Connect with organisations
If you're ready, we can help connect you with other organisations that can address your specific needs. We'll provide emotional support throughout this process, guiding you every step of the way if you choose to take it.
Step 4
We will always be here
We will be here for emotional support throughout the process and for as long as you need us. If we don't hear from you, we’ll send a follow-up email after two weeks to check in and offer continued support.
