SEAFARERS' RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL

What SEAFARERS' RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL does

Seafarers' Rights International (SRI) is a London-based, not-for-profit research organisation founded on 23 September 2010 at IMO headquarters by Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos. It conducts strategic research on the legal frameworks affecting the world's seafarers, with a focus on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), maritime cabotage, and the fair treatment of seafarers including criminalization and abandonment. Its work is delivered through comparative-law reports (notably Cabotage Laws of the World, covering 105 jurisdictions across two editions), empirical surveys (including a 3,480-respondent study spanning 68 nationalities), and an annual MLC Case Law Symposium run in partnership with the International Training Centre of the ILO.

SRI's outputs are consumed by governments, intergovernmental agencies (IMO, ILO), the International Transport Workers' Federation, and the global maritime legal bar. It does not sell commercial products; rather, it functions as a policy think tank whose work is commissioned primarily by the ITF Seafarers' Trust and disseminated through publications, conferences, and a network of more than 100 maritime lawyers across 50 firms in 34 countries via its Charter of Good Practice.

The organisation is governed by a Distinguished Advisory Board drawn from international courts, former IMO/ILO officials, and leading maritime law academics, under Executive Director Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Chairman Brian Orrell OBE. Headcount is small — six employees — reflecting a lean operating model reliant on its advisory network rather than in-house scale. There is no technology platform or AI/ML capability disclosed; SRI's value proposition rests on human expertise, institutional access, and accumulated proprietary research.

Name

SEAFARERS' RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL

Legal name

Seafarers' Rights International

Website

https://seafarersrights.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Seafarers' Rights International is a London-based, not-for-profit research organisation founded in 2010 that conducts strategic legal research on seafarer rights — covering the Maritime Labour Convention, maritime cabotage, and fair treatment — for governments, the IMO, the ILO, and the global maritime legal bar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Legal Research

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

Keywords

• Maritime legal research
• Seafarer rights advocacy
• Maritime labour convention
• Maritime policy research
• International maritime law

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. ITF Seafarers' Trust Funding: SRI was established with a start-up grant from the ITF Seafarers' Trust charity and operates as an independent organization.
2. Research Commissions and Partnerships: SRI conducts commissioned research projects for organizations such as the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). The organization generates revenue through research initiatives and strategic partnerships with maritime industry bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SRI conducts strategic, impartial research into all aspects of the legal framework of the maritime industry and those who work at sea, providing the shipping industry, governments, UN agencies (IMO and ILO), and other maritime stakeholders with the facts and analysis needed for informed, evidence-based decision-making. Core outputs include research on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), cabotage laws, fair treatment of seafarers, and a Networking Lawyers Program, alongside annual conferences, the MLC Case Law Symposium, the Charter of Good Practice for Legal Services, and a Legal Internship Scheme.

Product overview

Seafarers' Rights International (SRI) is an international pan-industry research organization dedicated to advancing seafarers' rights through strategic legal research and analysis. Rather than a unified software product, SRI operates as a research and advocacy center offering multiple interconnected programs: strategic research services examining maritime legal frameworks; specialized research areas covering Maritime Cabotage, Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) analysis, and Fair Treatment of Seafarers; a global networking lawyers program connecting seafarers with legal professionals; and a comprehensive conference and symposium series including the MLC Case Law Symposium and regional conferences. SRI also provides educational programs through its Legal Internship Scheme and issues professional charters such as the Charter of Good Practice for Legal Services to Seafarers. Publications include the biennial 'Cabotage Laws of the World' report. The organization was founded in 2010 and is funded by the ITF Seafarers' Trust charity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Research Services Strategic, impartial research into the legal framework of the maritime industry and those who work at sea, for shipping industry stakeholders, governments, UN agencies (IMO, ILO) and other maritime sectors needing evidence-based decision support.
• Maritime Cabotage Research Comprehensive research and analysis of cabotage laws worldwide, including their spread, geopolitical significance, and impact on seafarers and national shipping policies.
• Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) Analysis Research and analysis on the implementation, enforcement, and effectiveness of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, including case law examination and compliance assessment for maritime regulators, governments, and UN agencies.
• Fair Treatment of Seafarers Program Research and advocacy programme on the fair treatment of seafarers in the event of maritime accidents, including implementation of IMO/ILO Guidelines into national legislation for governments, regulators and legal professionals.
• Networking Lawyers Program Global network of lawyers specializing in the transport sector providing legal assistance to seafarers and facilitating cross-border legal support and expertise sharing.
• MLC Case Law Symposium Annual symposium jointly organized with the ITCILO, bringing together lawyers, judges, and academics to examine MLC jurisprudence and promote uniform interpretation.
• International Conference on Fair Treatment of Seafarers International conference series bringing together government representatives, judges, prosecutors, and industry stakeholders to discuss guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers and their implementation.
• Regional Conference on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Regional conference series on fair treatment of seafarers designed for Asian and other regional seafaring communities, producing regional statements and implementation guidance.
• Charter of Good Practice for Provision of Legal Services to Seafarers Professional ethics charter binding lawyers worldwide working with seafarers, providing assurance that seafarer clients will be treated in accordance with defined standards.
• Legal Internship Scheme Education and training programme providing law students and newly qualified lawyers with first-hand experience of seafarers' rights issues, including summer vacation scheme and stakeholder-sponsored scheme.

Quantifiable outcome

• SRI's MLC research found the Convention is only 65% effective globally, identifying substantial achievements but also significant gaps in enforcement
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2022SRI collaborates with ITCILO to jointly organize the annual Maritime Labour Convention Case Law Symposium. The symposium brings together lawyers, judges, and academics from around the world to examine MLC jurisprudence and promote uniform interpretation. The partnership facilitates knowledge exchange and professional development for maritime legal practitioners.
• IMO Member StatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2021SRI engages with IMO member states through conferences, workshops, and policy submissions. The organization conducts surveys of member state implementation of fair treatment guidelines and provides technical guidance for national legislation development. Over 30 states have been represented at SRI-organized events.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2010SRI was launched at IMO headquarters by Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos on World Maritime Day 2010. SRI maintains ongoing collaboration with IMO on fair treatment guidelines, maritime casualty investigations, and seafarer rights policy development. IMO Legal Committee has endorsed SRI's work on fair treatment of seafarers.
• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2010SRI was funded by ITF Seafarers' Trust and maintains close strategic partnership with ITF. ITF Secretary-General Stephen Cotton serves on SRI's extended network. SRI was commissioned by ITF to conduct comprehensive study on MLC effectiveness. Ongoing collaboration includes joint conferences, fair treatment initiatives, and research on seafarer abandonment and criminalization.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2010SRI works closely with ILO on Maritime Labour Convention research, implementation guidance, and Special Tripartite Committee activities. Rear-Admiral Jean-Marc Schindler, SRI Advisory Board member, chaired the MLC conferences at ILO from 2001-2006. SRI contributes to ILO's work on fair treatment guidelines and MLC case law development.
• Dodson & Hooks APLCminorOthersRichard Dodson, Advisory Board member, is founding partner of this Louisiana-based maritime law firm specializing in international admiralty law. The relationship provides access to US maritime legal expertise.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Mission to Seafarers: Long-established Anglican charity providing practical and pastoral support to seafarers worldwide. Comparable as a seafarer-focused non-profit with similar global scope, though more service-delivery oriented versus SRI's research-and-policy orientation.
• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF): Global union federation for transport workers; ITF Seafarers' Trust is SRI's founding funder and primary partner. ITF commissions SRI research and shares overlapping mission on seafarer welfare, fair treatment, and MLC implementation — closest peer in scope and constituency.
• International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN): International charity providing welfare services and assistance to seafarers globally. Operates in adjacent space to SRI's fair-treatment and seafarer-rights remit, with similar non-profit funding model and engagement with maritime governments and unions.
• Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea): Catholic charity providing welfare, advocacy, and port chaplaincy services to seafarers globally. SRI advisory board includes Bruno Ciceri from Stella Maris International; both organizations share seafarer welfare mission and engagement with international maritime bodies.
• World Maritime University (WMU): IMO-established university for maritime education, research, and capacity-building. SRI advisory board includes former WMU President; comparable as maritime-policy research and training institution addressing seafarer welfare and maritime regulation.
• Comité Maritime International (CMI): International non-governmental organization dedicated to unification of maritime and commercial law. SRI advisory board includes CMI Secretary-General Rosalie Balkin; CMI shares legal-research and international-convention focus from the law-reform side.

Broad incumbents

• International Labour Organization (ILO): UN agency setting international labour standards, including the Maritime Labour Convention that SRI researches. Joint organizer of the MLC Case Law Symposium; comparable as global governance body addressing seafarer labour rights.
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): Principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators. Comparable as global shipping-industry stakeholder engaging IMO and ILO on policy including seafarer labour standards; broader commercial remit than SRI.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO): UN specialized agency setting global maritime safety, security, environmental, and legal standards. SRI was launched at IMO HQ and works closely with IMO Legal Committee, but IMO is the regulator while SRI is an independent research body.
• BIMCO: World's largest shipowner association, representing shipowners operating ~60% of global tonnage. SRI engages shipowners through research and advocacy; BIMCO is an industry-side counterpart focused on commercial shipping standards rather than seafarer rights.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seafarers'-rights-international

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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