SCI’s Phil Schifflin, Esq. recently participated in the third meeting of the Joint ILO-IMO Tripartite Working Group to Identify and Address Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element (JTWG3) as a representative of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA). The meeting focused on the criminalization of seafarers, who may be unjustly treated as criminals for performing their duties, especially after incidents causing environmental harm or crimes aboard vessels without their knowledge. In some cases, seafarers could face detention without due process.

During JTWG3, participants reviewed and revised draft guidelines that had been developed over several years at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where Phil had also participated in previous meetings. Ultimately, JTWG3 approved a revised document titled “Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Connection with Alleged Crimes.” These guidelines will now be submitted to the IMO for further review and approval. If endorsed, they will be published as a best practices document outlining the rights that countries should provide to detained seafarers. While these guidelines are not legally binding, they represent a significant step forward in addressing the troubling issue of seafarers’ criminalization.