THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) launched a video last week titled ‘An Adventurous Spirit’ to showcase just how diverse and interesting a career in seafaring can be. It was a recruitment tool brought out in time for the Shaping the Future of Shipping summit in Manila, and as such it makes for feel-good viewing. 

The video is an industry response to the anticipated shortage of STCW (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) certified officers.

We can be confident that none of the beaming men and women interviewed had to pay an eye-watering up-front placement fee to a shifty individual acting “on behalf of” a crewing agent, who held on to the passport or Certificate of Competency until the fee was forthcoming.

This seems to be a reality for a large proportion of ratings from emerging economies, who are desperate for work and ignore warning signs to get it. A survey, conducted in December 2022 by Liverpool John Moores University and the Mission to Seafarers unveiled this week, reveals the underside of the crewing dilemma.

Almost two-thirds of the 210 seafarers who participated in the questionnaire acknowledged that they were aware of these corrupt demands, stating that it had either happened to them or their colleagues.

One in five said they had been asked to pay recruitment or replacement fees, most often in India. Some 28% of Indian seafarers who took part in the survey had paid a fee.

Fees averaged $1,800, usually as a “service charge”, but often as an agency fee or a straightforward bribe.

The authors observe that the stress and financial strain of paying illegal fees can take a toll on seafarers’ mental health, limit their career opportunities and lead to loss of trust in the shipping industry.

In some cases, seafarers might become trapped in debt bondage — a form of human slavery — and may be forced to work in exploitative and abusive conditions, which are serious violations of their human rights.

Among verbatim comments, one seafarer shared: “I have seen this happen over and over with Filipino crew members. The companies hold their documents in the office when they are on leave… they are put at the bottom of the list to get their next ship unless they bribe the personnel department.”

Another pointed out: “Almost all recruitment in Chinese companies requires illegal payment. If someone says he didn’t have to pay, he is lying.” A third said: “Most big companies in India charge one month’s salary as a bribe for getting a vessel each time.”

It is alleged that in Sri Lanka seafarers, mostly ratings, are required to keep a bond in both cash and property to the crewing agents to guarantee they will return home.

“Due to the increasing rate of job abandonment in developed countries, the bond [has been increased so significantly] that is unbearable to a genuine seafarer.”

In the section on recruitment, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 states that private seafarer placement services “require that no fees or other charges for seafarer recruitment or placement or for providing employment to seafarers are borne directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the seafarer…”

Most of the seafarers surveyed were aware (71%) or partially aware (25%) of the MLC guidelines and received regular training, however only four in 10 knew how to file a complaint about corrupt demands.

Why do seafarers pay a bribe to get work in shipping? Why don’t they quote the MLC to these “agents” and demand their rights? Because agents know how to exploit the vulnerable, their coercion tactics are effective and they are rarely challenged.

And because the industry has taken its eye off this particular ball.

At one end of the spectrum, seafaring is a diverse and interesting career choice. Shipping competes for the elite and is in danger of suffering a shortage. At the other end, shipping has a steady supply of ratings and doesn’t have quite the same interest in maintaining standards.  

But the John Moores/Mission to Seafarers survey warns that loss of trust in the shipping industry might, if ignored, exacerbate existing labour shortages. Feel-good videos are good, standing up for human rights is better.