‘Unrest at Sea’ event seeks solutions to abuse at sea
Unrest at Sea, a live panel discussion on ways to tackle abuse at sea will take place on 3 July 2025, 13:30-16:00 at Broadway House, London SW1. Hosted by the Guild of Benevolence, our partner charity, the event will bring influential figures from the marine world to explore solutions to these longstanding challenges.
The IMarEST’s involvement in Unrest at Sea demonstrates its ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its members, as well as the wider marine community. It will feature first-hand testimonies from crew members, alongside a panel discussion to address legal grey zones, gaps in protections, and the industry’s responsibility to create a safer, more supportive environment for seafarers.
Discussing practical solutions to strengthen protections for seafarers will be:
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Györgyi Gurban from the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
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Nusrat Ghani MP, deputy speaker of the House of Commons and former Minister of Maritime
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Pantelis Lamprianidis, accredited representative of the EU to the IMO
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Simon Grainge, chief executive of the International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN).
Lizi Woodland, business development manager at the Guild of Benevolence, said: “Behind every incident at sea is a person – often unheard, often unsupported. Unrest at Sea is about listening with purpose and working collaboratively to help shape a maritime culture that values dignity, fairness, and accountability. Real progress begins when the industry commits not just to safety, but to seafarers’ wellbeing in its fullest sense.”
Chris Goldsworthy, CEO at the IMarEST said: "To attract people into the sector, the immediate reaction when something goes wrong cannot be to point the finger at the ship’s team. Instead, we need a system that investigates fully and transparently into all systemic root causes, thereby supporting and learning from challenges rather than creating a culture of fear of reporting. Events like Unrest at Sea bring these conversations into focus and help us to create meaningful change."
