During an All Aboard Alliance high-level meeting, IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez highlighted that seafarers continue to receive fewer benefits than shore-based workers.
As the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the world’s most hazardous maritime regions, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) have officially designated it, along with the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, as a Warlike Operations Area.
For seafarers operating in the region, daily life has become increasingly defined by exhaustion, uncertainty, and psychological stress.
Alongside the constant fear of attack, many crews remain unsure when they will be able to return home. Mental health concerns have also intensified, with reports suggesting that prolonged exposure to high-risk conditions, restricted mobility, and persistent insecurity are having a severe impact on those working at sea.
Seafarers want to feel acknowledged. They want to feel recognised. Still, the seafarers don’t have the same benefits as those working on shore. I urge you to listen to the seafarers.
…said Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO).
This was the message from Dominguez on 19 May at the All Aboard Alliance high-level meeting in London, hosted by Philippa Charlton of Lloyd’s Register.
Covering topics from transparency and accountability to the link between crew welfare and financial performance, the meeting provided an important opportunity for the Alliance to reconnect for the first time since the launch of its 2030 strategy in October.
Key takeaways included a renewed emphasis on engaging directly with seafarers, recognition of the connection between strong crew welfare standards and reduced off-hire days, and the understanding that gradual, step-by-step improvements can drive meaningful change.
Meanwhile, industry organisations including ICS, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, IMCA, and OCIMF have jointly issued the “Safe Management of Vessel Transit through the Strait of Hormuz” guidance to support operators navigating the region safely.
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