The Legal Committee (LEG) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened for its 112th session from 24 to 28 March 2025 at the IMO Headquarters in London. The recent session of the IMO Legal Committee saw significant discussions and developments across a range of maritime issues impacting shipping and particularly seafarers, as informed by BIMCO. Guidelines for Fair Treatment of Detained Seafarers Adopted A key development from the committee’s recent session was the adoption of the finalised guidelines, following the recommendations of the Joint ILO-IMO Tripartite Working Group (JTWG).These guidelines, developed during the JTWG’s third meeting in November 2024, aim to address the growing number of seafarers detained in such cases and improve coordination between flag states, port states, seafarers’ home states and shipowners to ensure fair treatment.Furthermore, the guidelines emphasise the need for clear principles that can be adapted to various national systems, aiming to prevent the criminalisation of seafarers before thorough investigations.
Financial Security in Case of Abandonment of Seafarers

LINK: https://seafarertimes.com/2020-21/node/9386