As the global maritime community commemorated the 2026 Day of the Seafarer, maritime safety advocate and marine professional, Joy Uchechukwu Mba, has called for stronger international protection, enhanced welfare measures, and improved operational support for seafarers navigating increasingly dangerous global shipping routes.

Speaking against the backdrop of this year’s theme, “Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks,”Mba said the escalating security challenges confronting merchant vessels underscore the urgent need for governments, shipowners, regulators, and international organisations to place the safety and well-being of seafarers at the centre of global maritime policy.

Her call comes as geopolitical tensions continue to threaten major shipping corridors, particularly in the Red Sea and parts of the Middle East, where rocket attacks, vessel seizures, and regional conflicts have significantly heightened risks for merchant ships responsible for transporting nearly 90 per cent of global trade.

Drawing from more than two decades of experience as a licensed deck officer, maritime trainer, ship manager, and human resource professional, Mba stressed that seafarers should no longer be regarded merely as invisible participants in the global supply chain.

“The maritime industry can no longer afford to treat seafarers as invisible components of a supply chain. When we require crews to transit high-risk zones, we are asking them to safeguard the movement of almost 90 per cent of global trade. That responsibility must be matched with world-class training, comprehensive welfare systems, and unwavering shoreside support,” she said.

Having served aboard product tankers transporting highly flammable cargo through some of the world’s busiest maritime routes, Mba said she understands firsthand the operational, psychological, and physical pressures faced by crews working under constant security threats.

Her professional experience now spans technical operations, ship management, personnel administration, drydock coordination, and vessel brokerage, while she also remains actively engaged in maritime research and policy advocacy.

Mba’s academic work has increasingly focused on the human dimension of maritime operations. Through several published studies, she has examined the widening gap between regulatory compliance and the realities experienced by seafarers operating in conflict-prone waters, where prolonged deployments, fatigue, uncertainty, and mental stress have become recurring challenges.

As a licensed marine trainer certified by the University of Southampton and a certified human resources professional, Mba has managed more than 500 seafarers and trained over 1,000 maritime professionals, giving her a unique perspective on the relationship between operational excellence and crew welfare.

In one of her recent publications titled “Advancing Maritime Operations Sustainable Practices and Enhanced Safety Protocols for Global Shipping,” Mba argued that sustainability and safety must progress together if the shipping industry is to remain resilient in the face of climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical instability.

The study advocates wider adoption of greener technologies, stronger safety systems, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced crew welfare, maintaining that environmental sustainability should never come at the expense of those who keep global commerce moving.

Beyond safety, Mba has also contributed research on green shipping technologies, digital transformation, and emerging autonomous maritime systems, highlighting how innovation can improve operational performance while strengthening environmental stewardship and protecting seafarers.

Industry stakeholders say her research comes at a critical period when conflicts have forced vessels to reroute around dangerous waters, increased insurance costs, disrupted supply chains, and intensified anxiety among crews, many of whom come from developing countries.

Mba believes that meaningful reforms must include expanded access to mental health services, advanced emergency preparedness training, transparent risk communication, and stronger collaboration between shipowners, regulators, and governments.

According to her, investing in seafarers is not only a moral responsibility but also a strategic necessity for sustaining global trade.

As the shipping industry confronts the dual challenges of geopolitical instability and the transition toward cleaner maritime operations, Mba said lasting resilience will depend on recognising that the strength of the global supply chain ultimately rests on the people who operate it.

Her message on the Day of the Seafarer is clear: protecting international trade begins with protecting the men and women who carry it across the world’s oceans.