Only 49% of seafarers said their vessels were adequately crewed during their last contract to allow them to work safely, without excessive fatigue or breaches of agreed rest hours.
The finding is part of a new report published by the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), Mission to Seafarers, the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, RightShip and TURTLE. This takes place five years after the launch of the Delivering on Seafarers’ Rights Code of Conduct.
The report is based on data from RightShip’s Crew Welfare Self-Assessment (CWSA) and two studies of seafarers commissioned specifically for this publication.
It also found that only 59% of seafarers would feel safe raising a serious concern, without fear of repercussions. The other 41% were either not sure or did not feel safe to speak out on issues that they considered serious.
RightShip said that more than 1,000 companies have completed the CWSA to benchmark themselves against the Code of Conduct. Together, these companies run more than 13,000 ships and employ some 300,000 seafarers.
Data was supplemented with a TURTLE survey of 892 seafarers conducted in 2026 and workshop discussions organized by the Mission to Seafarers in the Philippines.
Despite the concerns highlighted, the CWSA also reported areas of strong performance in the eight chapters of the Code of Conduct. Fair terms of employment achieved a rate of 90%.
76% of seafarers reported that wages were paid correctly, in full and on time. The other 24% said they were worried about late payments and employment terms.
Crew wellbeing was identified as a domain that requires greater consistency and broader attention. But the report also noted clear signs of progress. Mental-health training has increased significantly, fewer companies charge seafarers for internet connectivity, and catering, mess and recreational facilities are widely reported to be provided.
CWSA data shows that 8.5% of companies charged their seafarers for internet access in 2026, down from 18.4% in 2024.
In the same two-year period, the number of shipowners and operators providing mental-health training also increased, from 64% to 76%.
But the TURTLE survey found that 17% of respondents would not feel safe using available mental-health support in case the information could be used against them. This concern was echoed by the Mission to Seafarers in the Philippines, in its discussions with seafarers who reported that to show any vulnerability could be a real professional risk.
“One of the more difficult things to measure, and one of the most important things to close, is the gap between what companies are offering and what seafarers feel they can take up,” the report said.
Instead, they said, the next five years must be about scaling up existing good practices across the global fleet so that more seafarers can benefit from them, rather than progress being concentrated among the industry’s leading companies.
They also observed that wider implementation of the Code of Conduct will depend on actors other than shipowners and operators.
“Insurers, investors and flag states have a role to play. Charterers and cargo owners also have an important role,” the report said. These stakeholders may move from setting expectations or screening suppliers to supporting improvement through contractual terms and clauses, agreed improvement plans, practical collaboration and longer term commercial relationships. They can also identify owners and operators with good or improving performance.
The report added that flag states need to implement stronger and more effective control measures.
Ellie Besley-Gould, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, said: “The evidence we’ve collected over the past five years points to two things: good welfare standards can be delivered, but they are still not part of everyday life for many seafarers.
“The next five years need to be about closing that gap,” she said, arguing the industry does not have to choose between commercial viability and responsible practices.
Shipping companies already make commercial decisions that determine which operators win business, get insurance cover and access to capital, she said, but crew welfare now needs to become a visible factor in those decisions.
“Operators who are already pioneering welfare are already reaping the benefits,” said Besley-Gould. “The wider industry shouldn’t need another five years to reach the same conclusion.”
When seafarers are well supported both mentally and physically and have adequate opportunities to rest, communicate and enjoy their spare time, they are better equipped to maintain concentration, make sound decisions and work effectively as a team,” said Georgios Tsoukatos of Diana Shipping Services.
