WELLBEING of mariners in Australia and overseas is a shared responsibility, Australian Maritime Safety Authority chief executive Kaylene Dale says.
Speaking at the Wellbeing at Sea Seafarers Welfare Conference 2026 in Adelaide, Ms Dale also argued mariners ought not bear the cost of rapid changes within the shipping sector.
She noted the maritime world would continue to change becoming more complex and at times more demanding.
“Seafarers must not bear the human cost of that change alone," Ms Dale said, noting the need for understanding and empathy.
“Most importantly, we need to bring attention to the key issues seafarers are experiencing," she said.
“The welfare of seafarers is not the responsibility of one organisation or one sector. It is a shared duty of care.
“Progress only happens when shipping companies, federations, welfare organisations, unions and communities work together with a shared purpose to protect the people who keep global trade and supply chains moving at all times.”
Ms Dale said the world was changing rapidly, with faster port turnarounds, increasing financial pressures and seafarers facing significant technological and regulatory change.
While many changes were positive, for example, improved access to the internet allowing seafarers to maintain important family connections there were also “unintended consequences”.
“For example, faster turnaround times, efficiency demands and tighter schedules often mean seafarers have little or no opportunity to go ashore,” Ms Dale said.
She said global trends pointed to growing skill shortages, rising competition for labour, and growing work.
“For us, being part of the conversation includes theories about attracting, retaining and tapping into a wider population. This includes groups that have historically been under-represented or marginalised,” she said.
Ms Dale said the numbers of people working at sea remained relatively small and that encouraging maritime careers required a culture that faciliated safe, respectful and supportive working environments.
“The Maritime Labour Convention is fundamental to this purpose. Seeking to ensure comprehensive and worldwide protection of the rights of seafarers to decent working conditions,” she said.
“Australia remains strongly committed to upholding the MLC through a robust regime of certification and inspection.”