Better safeguarding measures needed to support cadets at sea

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Cadets are increasingly struggling to complete their cadetships due to a shortage of available placements onboard.

In some instances, this scarcity has reportedly led to situations where individuals in positions of influence have taken advantage of cadets seeking essential sea time.

According to the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), almost one third (31%) of seafarers are asked to pay a recruitment fee for jobs on merchant vessels. While some shipowners do offer structured cadet programmes, many prioritise hiring experienced crew, limiting opportunities for cadets to fulfil the 12 months of sea service required for certification.

This lack of opportunity can leave cadets exposed to exploitation by certain recruitment agents or port officials, who may place inappropriate demands or conditions in exchange for placement opportunities.

To help tackle these challenges, The Hood, a social media platform built specifically for the maritime sector, is working to digitalise the recruitment and placement process. The platform keeps a record of all recruitment activity for internal review, supporting transparency and enabling oversight. Its system is designed to promote transparency and ensure all transactions are properly documented. It also provides a framework for greater involvement from management and senior teams, helping to strengthen accountability across the board.

“The seafaring industry is becoming a narrower tunnel and one that rarely gains attention unless it is catastrophic,” says Josephine Le, founder and Managing Director of The Hood. “As an industry, we have a duty of care to our people, especially those on the front line at sea and those just starting their journey.”

The Hood is committed to work with local maritime and labour authorities to ensure the reported cases are handled appropriately and highlighting good practices from reputable employers. The platform will only accept recruitment companies and employers who are licensed and with valid MLC certificates. Only recruiters assigned by these companies may have access to the job portals and professional files of candidates.

Supporting and safeguarding cadets is vital for the future of the maritime workforce. Without accessible placements and protective measures, the industry risks losing young talent at a time when it should be encouraging and investing in them.

Latest News

Shipping takes major sustainable plastic step with toolkit from MACS

The Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) has published a series of practical guides to enable... Read more

Shanghai climbs to second as Singapore retains top spot

Shanghai has officially become the world’s second-most prominent shipping hub, according to the... Read more

OceanScore sees growing port adoption of PortView

OceanScore, the maritime data and sustainability company helping shipping and ports turn regulatory... Read more

INTERCARGO highlights progress and priorities in bulk carrier safety

Bulk carrier safety continues to show steady long-term improvement, but the nature of risk facing seafarers... Read more

Norden raises full-year guidance following strong performance in dry cargo

Following stronger than expected operational performance in dry cargo, reduced costs associated with... Read more

Algoma announces refinancing of long-term debt

Algoma Central Corporation, a leading provider of marine transportation services, has announced that... Read more

Global maritime under threat from Fortibleed incident, warns Cydome

Major maritime, ports and energy companies have been identified by Cydome’s threat-intelligence... Read more

Crewing specialist expands global recruitment network with Indonesian seafarers

As the global shipping industry faces mounting concerns over future crew availability, Danica Crewing... Read more

IMO pauses evacuation in Strait of Hormuz following attack

Following an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, IMO has decided to temporarily pause its evacuation... Read more

Human cost of keeping world trade moving highlighted on Day of the Seafarer

Leading health and wellness platform OneCare Group is calling on shipping leaders to recognise the immense... Read more