Each year, the 25th of June is celebrated as the Day of the Seafarer (DoTS). Fourteen years ago, on this very day, major revisions were adopted to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and its Code in Manila, Philippines. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) already recognised 2010 as the ‘Year of the Seafarer’. That same year, the global maritime community resolved to honour the unique contributions of seafarers worldwide by annually paying tribute and expressing deep appreciation and gratitude for their efforts. Today, the United Nations (UN) recognises the DoTS as an observance day. Seafarers are the essential human element and stakeholders in the maritime sector. They have continued to play a critical role in sustaining international trade and continued supply chain management. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, their indispensable function earned them the designation of ‘key workers’ at the United Nations (UN) and the IMO. The IMO has recognised the human element as a key element of the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment due to their importance in developing and implementing requirements in this regard. The 2024 celebrations for DoTS focus on the theme “safety tips at sea” to generate awareness of the importance of seafarers’ contribution toward a safer workplace within the maritime sector. Seafarers are a priority of the IMO The interests of seafarers have been given utmost priority by the IMO, a UN-specialised agency that seeks to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient, and sustainable shipping through cooperation. There is consensus among the 176 IMO member states that “the safety of life at sea, maritime security, protection of the environment and world trade all depend on the competence and professionalism of the personnel employed or engaged in the maritime sector.” Today, the international maritime sector stands at a turning point necessitated by concerns about climate change and the advancements in new and emerging technologies. The IMO’s six-year strategic plan for 2024-2029 has expressly recognised accounting for the needs and well-being of seafarers with importance to their fair treatment, inclusivity, equality, diversity and women’s empowerment. Although maritime regulations, in general, impact the seafaring communities at large, there is a need to draw attention to their concerns and interests specifically. Among the 08 Strategic Directions that drive the current IMO Strategic Plan, two Strategic Directions shed focused attention on seafarers. Strategic Direction 5, which seeks to enhance global facilitation, supply chain resilience and security of international trade, expressly calls for “strengthening the care and recognition of seafarers and appreciation for the role of the maritime industry in facilitating international trade.” Strategic Direction 6, which seeks to address the human element, promises a human-centred approach. This includes promoting fair treatment of seafarers, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and addressing seafarer abandonment, bullying, and harassment, including sexual assault and sexual harassment. The IMO comprises the Assembly, the highest governing body, the Council, its executive organ, and five technical Committees. These are the Maritime Safety Committee, Marine Environment Protection Committee, Legal Committee and the Facilitation Committee. These commi