International Transport Workers' Federation

The ITF and its maritime affiliates, including @nautilusint.org, were at the forefront of the creation of the MLC 20 years ago, and will continue to work alongside governments and shipping companies to ensure that the MLC drives the journey to decent work.

YouTube video by ITF Global ITF celebrates 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention - protecting seafarers globally

ITF is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention - one of the most significant global labour treaties ever created. It provides strong protection for seafarers, demonstrating the power of unions to produce enforceable, global rules for workers.

youtu.be/QnFHhoFSONk

Solidarity with all public transport workers and @social.verdi.de members striking in Germany today and tomorrow for better wages and working conditions! 🇩🇪

#OurPublicTransport

Seafarer abandonment in 2025 rose to record high levels 📈

Abandonment is a disgrace and this crisis must be stopped. We're calling for:

- Verified ownership
- Ship blacklisting
- Investigation into Flags of Convenience

© @splash247.bsky.social

ITF celebrates anniversary of landmark global treaty for seafarers The ITF played a leading role in securing the now 20-year-old Maritime Labour Convention – and it continues to advocate for its implementation and updating to protect seafarers’

⚓️A global “bill of rights” for seafarers.

ITF marks the anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) — setting global standards on seafarers’ rights, safety and welfare.

www.itfglobal.org/en/news/itf-...

False flags are an evolution of the business model - Splash247 David Heindel from the International Transport Workers’ Federation on the dangers lurking behind the maritime industry’s use of flags of convenience. Recent reporting on false flags and the rise of sh...

⚓ False flags and shadow fleets are symptoms of the FOC system the ITF has long warned about.

ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair Dave Heindel: these aren’t separate issues — they’re outcomes of a system that leaves seafarers exposed to abuse and abandonment.

👉 Read more: splash247.com/false-flags-...

🐟 Fancy your UK seafood with a side of exploitation?
Chris Williams from the ITF highlights the reality migrant fishers face:

🛑 Risk of modern slavery
🛑 Low pay
🛑 Extreme hours
🛑 Fear of reporting abuse

Read the full article 👇

www.ethicaltrade.org/resources/bl...

ITF Dakar Declaration on Combating IUU Fishing in West Africa In West Africa, over 200 million people rely on fish as their primary source of protein.

West African unions unite to tackle illegal fishing.

ITF and partners have launched the Dakar Declaration, a regional commitment to confront illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing — protecting livelihoods, food security and fishers’ rights across West Africa.

www.itfglobal.org/en/news/itf-...

“Once they're at sea, they've got them prisoner on board. It's a modern-day slavery.”

- ITF Inspector, Nathan Smith.

The ghost ships in the English Channel and the question of what to do about them What can governments do when countries circumvent or flout the rules to export oil?

Abandoned at sea — 'shadow fleet' seafarers are being left without pay or a way home.

A BBC News investigation reveals the harsh reality facing seafarers left unpaid and stranded for months on the hidden ships running the illicit oil trade.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today Air New Zealand longhaul cabin crew began a 48-hour strike for fair pay and conditions.

We send our solidarity to Lufthansa cabin crew and pilots who are also on strike today. Kia kaha.

- Mark Dickinson, General Secretary of @nautilusint.org

- ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton

The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers A growing number of tankers and other commercial vessels are being ditched by their owners.

The BBC exposes the human cost of the global surge in ship abandonment, revealed by the work of the ITF Inspectorate — with 6,223 seafarers left stranded on 410 vessels in 2025, the worst year on record.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers A growing number of tankers and other commercial vessels are being ditched by their owners.

Based on my recent interview with a Russian shadow-fleet officer:
BBC News - The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“There was really nowhere we could go. The explosions were happening all around us.”

What was supposed to be a short delivery of cargo turned into a months-long nightmare. They were eventually rescued and repatriated thanks to efforts of @itfglobalunion.bsky.social but thousands remain abandoned

Governments cannot allow shipowners to get away this and must protect seafarers by regulating the industry to ensure transparency and accountability. And that starts with ending the Flag of Convenience system that is enabling the shadow fleet. (4/4)

As seafarer abandonment rose to record levels in 2025, some affected crews were on shadow fleet vessels close to conflict zones or unstable regions. This puts seafarers in life-threatening situations, lacking support and security. (3/4)

A shadow fleet ship hides its location and, like many 'Flag of Convenience' vessels, it's real ownership is deliberately ambiguous – tactics used to evade international sanctions. (2/4)

‘It’s a miracle we survived’: the civilian crew trapped on a ship in Ukraine as bombs rained down As record number of seafarers and cargo ships are abandoned in war zones, crew members stranded in a Black Sea port have shared their dramatic testimony with the Guardian

The abandonment of 'shadow fleet' vessels is putting seafarers at extreme risk... 🧵 (1/4)

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

RMT General Secretary, Eddie Dempsey addresses a group of RMT protesters holding red RMT flags and a banner demanding TFL cleaning contracts be kept in-house outside a modern glass building.

"Outsourcing allows private firms to make super profits at the expense of the hard graft of our members, deny them sick pay, continue bullying management practices and strip our people of basic dignity at work."
Eddie Dempsey with a message to the Mayor of London to bring cleaners back in-house.

ITF welcomes return of Safe Rates in South Korea – strong enforcement, further expansion needed The implementation of Safe Rates for container and bulk cement transport in Korea marks an important step towards improving fair pay, good jobs and road safety for truck drivers.

🚛 Safe Rates return to South Korea — but more must be done
ITF welcomes the reintroduction of Safe Rates from 1 Feb 2026 — a vital step for fair pay and safer roads.
Enforcement and wider coverage are now essential.

#SafeRatesSaveLives
Read more: 👇

www.itfglobal.org/en/news/itf-...

Solidarity with all public transport workers out on strike today in Germany!

#OurPublicTransport

Solidarity with @rmtunion.bsky.social Shunter Drivers taking strike action against Southeastern trains today!

Fair pay for a fair job!

Amazon pushes workers to the brink and busts their unions.

It has lined up behind Trumpism and its attack on Europe’s data protections.

And for the last five years, it has evaded any democratic scrutiny.

But yesterday, Amazon faced workers, trade unions and MEPs in the European Parliament.

The ITF Seafarers’ Expo has officially kicked off in Mumbai, India 🇮🇳

We’re bringing 4,000+ seafarers together to speak about rights, advice, training and support directly with unions, ITF inspectors, welfare organisations, government representatives and shipping companies.

Ferry carrying over 350 people sinks in Philippines, killing at least 18 The coastguard says at least 317 people have been rescued so far, while 24 others remain missing.

ITF sends its condolences + solidarity to all those affected by the tragic ferry sinking en route to Jolo Island.
We thank the Philippine Coast Guard for rescuing over 300 survivors and call for a full investigation.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/...

“Our fight is for the workers” Gig worker union leader Shaik Salauddin on Indian gig workers organising a successful strategic strike against exploitative "10-minute delivery" models.

Platform workers in #India strike over an ultra-fast 10-minute delivery model that puts their lives at risk. Some cities in the Netherlands, for example, have banned this practice (even if for urban congestion/planning concerns). Solidarity!

#gigeconomy
progressive.international/wire/2026-01...

ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton, attended the annual Panhellenic Maritime Organisation New Year event in Athens last week.

Steve spoke about the collaboration required between unions and the industry to combat the shortage of young seafarers in Greece and globally.

Seafarer abandonment - 2025 was the worst year on record 📈

New ITF data shows that 6,223 seafarers were abandoned on 410 ships. Many of the seafarers were left unpaid, without food, water or access to ports, often for months at a time.

Full story ➡️ www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/seaf...