This article was updated on 2 January 2026.
I have made up my mind to stop writing about seafarers’ rights and allied issues. This was no spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the result of an epiphany.
One day, in a rare moment of intuitive clarity, it dawned on me that I had spent many years—too many in fact—writing about the rights and welfare of those who work at sea. I took the IMO to task for doing nothing for seafarers; exposed the wrongdoings of manning agents and the failings of maritime unions; twitted the charities for their donations-driven work; and rebuked the shipping press for its habitual ass-licking.
It has all been a futile exercise changing nothing. Particularly disheartening is the indifference of many seafarers. They seem to care only about jobs, careers, and the new house or car they purchased. The things they post on social media speak volumes. Why bother with seafarers’ rights or the suffering of one’s fellow mariners? I often wonder how many seafarers have actually read ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
Let the unions and charities go on with their campaigns to promote seafarers’ rights. It’s their livelihood, but it has never been so for me.
Following my decision, Marine Café Blog will focus on marine art, culture, history and technology. I hope that you will all keep visiting and enjoying the maritime menu. — BU
~ Barista Uno
