On 13 and 16 October 2026, the ESG Committee of the World Maritime Merchants Forum (WMMF ESG) hosted the seminar series World Maritime Merchants, Seafarers First — Seminar on the Global Seafarer Health and Rights Report 2026 in Dalian and Shanghai. Nearly 20 leading international shipping organisations, classification societies, industry unions and academic institutions were invited. Experts and representatives gathered to examine the current status, challenges and pathways for improvement in seafarer health and rights protection, and to exchange views on the preparation and application of the Global Seafarer Health and Rights Report 2026 (the "Report"). The discussions brought together industry wisdom to help strengthen the global shipping talent foundation.

Shipping continues to move towards larger fleets, higher operational efficiency, smarter technology and greener, lower-carbon operations. Yet no matter how rapidly ship technology advances, the professionals on board remain the core of safe navigation and the stable functioning of global trade. More than 90 per cent of world goods trade by volume is carried by sea, underpinned by the professional efforts of approximately 2.57 million seafarers. At the same time, seafarers continue to face multiple challenges, including geopolitical conflict, fatigue, prolonged separation from home, social isolation, and limited access to medical care and welfare services. For an industry so heavily dependent on its seafarers, further safeguarding their health and rights is not only essential to individual career development but is also directly linked to maritime safety, talent retention and the long-term sustainable development of the sector.

2026 marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). International attention to seafarer rights protection has shifted from establishing the institutional framework to ensuring that protective measures are effectively implemented and that seafarers' onboard working and living conditions are meaningfully improved. Against this important milestone, the seminar series brought together voices from across the global shipping supply chain to explore practical pathways for strengthening seafarer rights protection.

The two seminars brought together experts and representatives from nearly 20 organisations, including the All-China Federation of Trade Unions Seafarers' Construction Union National Committee, China Shipowners' Association, Labour Sociology Professional Committee of the Chinese Sociological Association, Shanghai Shipping Insurance Association, Hong Kong Shipowners Association, Hong Kong Seamen’s Union, Hong Kong Shipping Industry Association, International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), Dalian Maritime University, China Classification Society (CCS), Xinde Marine News, Lloyd’s List, China Merchants Energy Shipping, COSCO Shipping Seafarer Management, Huayang Maritime, as well as relevant insurers, maritime authorities and authorised service centres, ship management companies, pilot stations, ship agencies, and medical and health management institutions. Discussions covered physical health, mental health, welfare protection, onboard interpersonal interaction, peer support, family contact, corporate measures and policy alignment.

The Hong Kong Shipping Industry Association played an active bridging role by organising member companies to contribute to the Report's earlier questionnaire design and data collection, and by inviting experts to participate in the review process. Member companies attached great importance to the initiative and provided strong support, injecting the unique perspectives and practical experience of the Hong Kong shipping community into the research.

Participants agreed that the Report — grounded in large-scale cross-border seafarer questionnaires, jointly prepared by institutions and experts from multiple countries, and completed through collaborative effort — draws on the combined strength of international shipping organisations, shipowners, ship managers, service providers, universities, academic institutions and the seafarer community. It will offer the international seafarer rights protection community a reference that combines global vision with practical value, and fully demonstrates the spirit of cross-border cooperation within the global shipping industry to safeguard seafarers' rights.

After further incorporation of expert opinions, the Report will be officially released on 16 November 2026 at the 2026 World Maritime Merchants Forum in Hong Kong. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the MLC, 2006, the Report will provide the global shipping industry with a new reference for better understanding the current state of seafarer health and rights protection and for driving continuous improvement in related areas.

World Maritime Merchants, Seafarers First!

--About the Report--

The Report is jointly prepared by the WMMF ESG Committee, Dalian Maritime University and relevant international industry organisations. The research team includes experts from the Seafarer Development Research Institute of Dalian Maritime University, the University of Plymouth (United Kingdom) and Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada). With reference to the MLC, 2006, the research draws on nearly 5,000 genuine seafarer questionnaires and 65 company questionnaires worldwide. It compares the institutional and support arrangements reported by companies with seafarers' actual experiences, and examines the situation across the dimensions of physical health, mental health and welfare protection. It comprehensively assesses the availability and adequacy of relevant protective measures as well as seafarers' perceptions of them. Onboard interpersonal interaction, peer support and family contact are also included in the analysis, exploring the links and gaps between regulatory requirements and lived experience. The findings aim to provide a reference for refining relevant convention provisions, optimising corporate support arrangements and improving talent support by relevant institutions.