• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
More than 11,000 seafarers remain awaiting evacuation from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the planet's most strategic maritime routes, as the international community commemorates the International Day of the Seafarer this June 25.
This coincidence highlights an increasingly worrying reality for the global maritime sector: while millions of people daily depend on the work of seafarers to receive food, fuel, and goods, thousands of these civilian workers continue to operate in regions marked by armed conflicts, threats to navigation, and high risks to their safety.
Given this situation, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and its General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM) reiterate that the safety and well-being of seafarers must remain a priority for the international maritime community. They also trust that the necessary conditions will be re-established for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to resume the evacuation plan for affected crews.
Concern has intensified following the deaths of at least 14 civilian seafarers of various nationalities, while performing duties aboard merchant vessels of different registries in conflict-affected areas. The IMO has insisted that commercial crews must not become victims of political or military tensions.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz adds to the risks faced by commercial navigation in other regions, such as the Black Sea, where the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused incidents that have affected merchant vessels and endangered the lives of their crews, including ships under the Panamanian flag.
In this context, Panama reiterated the need to strengthen international measures to protect seafarers, guarantee freedom of navigation, and safeguard human life at sea.
As part of these actions, the AMP maintains the email address labormar@amp.gob.pa enabled for crew members working aboard Panamanian merchant marine vessels to request guidance, assistance, or make inquiries related to their rights and working conditions. Likewise, it recommended that Panamanian seafarers requiring support abroad contact the nearest Panamanian consulate.
In addition to the risks arising from conflicts, international organizations have warned about the challenges seafarers face regarding mental health and emotional well-being. Long hours away from home, isolation, and operational uncertainty continue to be factors that significantly impact those working aboard ships.
Each year, the work of seafarers enables the movement of nearly 80% of global trade. However, behind this essential activity for the global economy are thousands of stories marked by distance, sacrifice, and, in some cases, direct exposure to war scenarios.
On the International Day of the Seafarer, Panama joined the call of the international maritime community to recognize the contribution of these professionals and strengthen actions aimed at ensuring that they can perform their work in conditions of safety, dignity, and respect for their rights.
