Radio National Breakfast Maritime organisations raise alarm over welfare of seafarers trapped in the Gulf
Mar 15, 2026
Simon Grainge, CEO of the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network, speaks from frontline experience running the Seafarer Help helpline. He outlines calls about repatriation, crew rights to refuse unsafe work, and the logistics of rotating trapped crews. He warns against risking seafarers for profit and urges urgent international action to secure safe transit and crew welfare.
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Seafarers Can Refuse Work But Ships Still Need Crews
- Seafarers have legal rights to refuse to continue work in dangerous zones under the Maritime Labour Convention.
- Simon Grainge highlights the practical dilemma: about 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers are trapped in the Gulf, so ships still need crews aboard.
24/7 Helpline Is Fielding Repatriation And Death Reports
- Seafarer Help is a 24/7 multilingual helpline receiving calls about repatriation and safety concerns amid attacks in the Gulf.
- Calls include families worried about lost contact and reports that around seven seafarers have died so far.
Operators Must Balance Crew Repatriation With Ship Safety
- Ship operators face an operational nightmare getting crews on and off trapped vessels; solutions must balance crew rights and vessel operability.
- Grainge quantifies the scale: roughly 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Gulf.