Legal aid

Seafarers' Rights International and Human Rights at Sea can refer pro-bono maritime lawyers in your jurisdiction. National union legal desks are often the fastest path.

Step-by-step

1. Contact your national union first — AMOSUP (PH), NUSI/MUI (IN), Nautilus (UK/NL/CH), MTWTU (UA).
2. If no union covers you, email Seafarers' Rights International with documents scanned.
3. Record everything: contract, vessel name, dates, port, chain-of-correspondence.
4. For criminal cases at sea (e.g. unfair arrest after a collision), demand your flag-state consul before any formal statement.

Evidence to save

• Full SEA + STCW certs + ID documents (scanned)
• Timeline of events with dates, ports, and witnesses
• All written correspondence (email, WhatsApp screenshots, letters)
• Photos of any onboard condition relevant to the case

What NOT to sign

• Any document presented by an unknown lawyer without verifying their bar registration
• Power of attorney covering future earnings without an explicit case scope

Legal basis

UNCLOS Art. 94 (flag-state jurisdiction), MLC 2006 Regulation 5.3.

Primary sources

• Seafarers' Rights International
• Human Rights at Sea
• ILO Maritime Labour Convention helpdesk

Organisations that can help

• ITF Inspectorate — London (Global Coordinating)
  Global · Mon-Fri 9-17 GMT, after-hours via inspector network
  📞 +44 20 7403 2733
• ITF Seafarers
  Global · 24/7 for emergencies
  📞 +44 20 7403 2733
• Nautilus International — UK 24-hour helpline
  Europe · 24/7
  📞 +44 20 8989 6677
• AMOSUP (Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines)
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Sat 8-17 PHT
  📞 +63 2 8527 8491
• MTWTU (Maritime Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine)
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 EET
  📞 +380 48 728 65 92
• ITF Inspector — Piraeus, Greece
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 EET
  📞 +30 210 4286 222
• ITF Inspector — Rotterdam, Netherlands
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET, on-call after-hours
  📞 +31 6 53 18 91 36
• ITF Inspector — Singapore
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-18 SGT
  📞 +65 6379 5660
• ITF Inspector — Houston, USA
  Americas · Mon-Fri 9-17 CT
  📞 +1 832 922 6890
• DG Shipping (India) — Seafarer Grievance Redressal Cell
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9:30-18 IST
  📞 +91 22 2575 2040
• ITF Inspectorate — Find your nearest inspector
  Global · Varies by port
• ITF Nigeria Inspectorate
  Africa · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +234 1 587 1920
• ITF South Africa Inspectorate
  Africa · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +27 31 301 4108
• ITF Egypt Inspectorate (Suez/Port Said)
  Middle East · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +20 62 333 0102
• ITF UAE Inspectorate
  Middle East · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +971 4 880 4684
• Nautilus International — Netherlands office
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
  📞 +31 10 477 1188
• Nautilus International — Switzerland office
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
  📞 +41 22 731 65 22
• Maradmin (State Service of Maritime and Inland Water Transport, Ukraine)
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-18 EET
  📞 +380 44 351 7351
• ver.di — German maritime workers desk
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
  📞 +49 40 2858 4150
• Paris MoU Secretariat
  Europe · Mon-Fri 9-17 CET
• Tokyo MoU Secretariat
  Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9-18 JST
  📞 +81 3 3265 0851
• ITF Saudi Arabia (correspondent)
  Middle East · Office hours, escalate via London 24/7
  📞 +44 20 7403 2733
• National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI)
  South Asia · Office hours
  📞 +91 22 2261 3361
• ITF Turkey Inspectorate
  Mediterranean · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +90 212 244 4228
• ITF Greece (PNO)
  Mediterranean · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +30 210 411 5226
• ITF Spain Inspectorate
  Europe · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
  📞 +34 956 60 22 25
• ILO MLC Complaints
  Global · Office hours (CET)
  📞 +41 22 799 7501
• Nautilus International
  UK/NL/CH · Office hours
  📞 +44 20 8989 6677
• AMOSUP (Philippines)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +63 2 8527 8491
• DMW / OWWA (Philippines) — Seafarer welfare desk
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +63 2 8721 8532
• NUSI (India)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +91 22 2261 2822
• MUI (India)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +91 22 2413 2500
• KPI — Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (Indonesian Seafarers Union)
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +62 21 4210983
• Maritime Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine
  Europe · Office hours
  📞 +380 48 728 2929
• Pakistan Merchant Navy Officers Association
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +92 21 3562 4621
• Sri Lanka Director General of Merchant Shipping — welfare desk
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
  📞 +94 11 258 7215
• Myanmar Maritime Workers Federation
  Asia-Pacific · Office hours
• Seafarers' Rights International
  Global · Office hours
  📞 +44 20 7253 0161
• SINDMAR (Brazil) — Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante
  Americas · Office hours
  📞 +55 21 2253 4343
• Human Rights at Sea
  Global · Office hours
  📞 +44 23 9431 6113

Disclaimer. General information only — not legal advice. Rules vary by flag state, port state, vessel type, applicable CBA, and contract. For specific cases, contact ITF, ISWAN, your union, or a maritime lawyer.