Guidance
Shadow Fleet guide- English
Shadow Fleet guide- English
- CHIRP
- Guidance
- Unknown
- Mental Health and WellbeingOccupational HealthSecurity
- Mental health and wellbeingRegulation and legislationRisk managementWorker rights and retaliation protection
- Safety communication
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
Practical guidance for seafarers, families and crewing companies on recognising shadow-fleet vessels and reducing recruitment risks. It covers sanctions checks, ownership and insurance verification, safety and welfare consequences, discreet action for those already aboard, and family communication arrangements, with sources of support.
Classifications: Mental health and wellbeing; mental health; mental wellbeing.
Classifications: Regulation and legislation; safety legislation; regulatory requirements.
Classifications: Risk management; risk evaluation.
Classifications: Worker rights and retaliation protection.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
Guide helping seafarers, families and crewing companies identify and avoid shadow fleet vessels and their safety, welfare and legal risks.
Themes: mental health and wellbeing, occupational health, security.
An independent and confidential reporting system for the Maritime industry
SHADOW FLEET SAFETY GUIDE A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR SEAFARERS, FAMILIES, AND CREWING COMPANIES
Introduction This guide equips seafarers and their families with practical steps to stay safe when dealing with vessels that operate outside international rules—often called the ‘shadow fleet.’ These ships frequently evade sanctions, change flags, and lack proper maintenance, creating serious safety and welfare risks. Understanding how to identify these ships helps protect seafarers and enables crewing companies to make safer placement decisions.
Spotting the warning signs Identifying vessels linked to the shadow fleet requires close cooperation between seafarers and crewing companies. Before accepting any Aruba Angola Benin assignment, verify the vessel’s IMO number against official sanctions and risk lists. Look for these indicators:
Vessel Characteristics Significantly older vessels, particularly where there are visible signs of poor maintenance or neglect. Frequent changes in ownership or management Rapid or repeated flag changes Botswana Curacao Guinea Guyana Not appearing on recognised Port State Control MoUs (Paris, Tokyo, USCG)
Operational Patterns Unusual or high-risk trading routes No clear management, insurance or P&I entry AIS switched off or transmitting false positions Ship-to-ship (STS) cargo transfers offshore Lesotho Malawi Maldives
High-Risk Registries If registered under unofficial or suspicious registries, as shown on page 5, the vessel is likely sanctioned.
Mali Mozambique Sint Marteen Timor-Leste
Before accepting any assignment, verify the vessel’s IMO number against official sanctions and risk lists Tonga Zambia Zimbabwe
What’s at stake for you? Work on a sanctioned vessel can bring serious safety, welfare and legal consequences.
Safety Risks Non-compliance with SOLAS, IMO or class requirements increases the likelihood of mechanical failures, collisions or pollution incidents. Trading patterns may place the vessel and crew in high-risk or conflict regions where military strikes against merchant vessels have occurred.
Welfare Risks Higher chance of unpaid wages, delayed payments, or total abandonment. Living conditions may fall below minimum standards, with reports of bullying, intimidation, withheld phones, poor food quality, restricted communication and very limited or no shore leave.
Mental Health Isolation, uncertainty and lack of contact with Risks family can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental-health challenges.
Legal Risks Seizure, detention or impoundment by authorities.
Safety checks Safer recruitment and pre-joining checks Before signing any contract, seafarers and crewing companies should: Confirm compliance with MLC, SOLAS and IMO standards Ensure contract lists wages, overtime, leave, and repatriation terms Verify wage payment systems and insurance coverage Check ownership history, PSC records and AIS behaviour Ensure emergency contact details are available (ITF, ISWAN, CHIRP) Encourage families to keep vessel details recorded at home Carry an emergency SIM card
If you are already onboard Prioritise personal safety; do not confront those in control Discreetly inform family or trusted organisations (Union, ISWAN, CHIRP) Carry an emergency SIM card Document unsafe conditions if safe to do so Contact ITF or national authority if wages stop Arrange to leave safely at earliest opportunity
Resources www.equasis.org A free website where registration is required and contains a wealth of information on the owner, the last PSC inspection, history, etc.
www.igpandi.org To check whether a vessel is covered by a P&I club that is a member of the IOGP.
Support for families Maintain regular communication through multiple channels If affordable, set aside some money every month to build an emergency fund in case wages stop Use agreed code words for discreet alerts Act quickly if communication stops or wages are delayed Seek help from ITF, ISWAN or CHIRP Provide emotional support and stay informed
Emergency contacts
Organisation Website
ITF Seafarers’ https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/contact-us Support
CHIRP https://www.chirp.co.uk/maritime/submit-a-report/ Maritime
ISWAN https://www.iswan.org.uk/get-support/seafarers/
Befrienders https://befrienders.org/befrienders-worldwide- Worldwide seafarers/
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