Maritime Levy Campaign
About the Project
Seafarers move 90% of the worlds goods around the globe.
They work in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. But because they are out at sea, they are out of sight and often out of mind.
Thankfully, a range of welfare organisations exist to support seafarers. They help provide some of the comfort and support that most people take for granted on land. But a properly funded and sustainable welfare sector is needed to continue providing this vital support.
How are we helping?
We are advocating for changes in policy and legislation.
We believe that levies and taxes charged to maritime companies by States should be used in part to support the welfare of seafarers by funding port based facilities and services.
Our efforts in New Zealand were successful and we are now working to support partners in Australia to bring about similar changes.
Call to Action
Human Rights at Sea urges coastal states to reinforce political will and national legislative pathways to assure sustainable and long-term welfare support in law through existing maritime levy structures.
Related Resources
Success in New Zealand
Our maritime levy campaign began in 2019 in New Zealand. In 2020 we published a report on the underfunding of welfare services and the poor MLC compliance of New Zealand. We followed this up with a Counsel's Opinion, indicating how the situation could be rectified. This led to a government commitment to rectify the situation and an eventual change in legislation.
This change will allow port welfare facilities to access sustainable funding funded from the collection of levies from visiting vessels. Around 130,000 crew members visiting the 10 ports of New Zealand will have access to welfare facilities which are sustainably funded thanks to Human Rights at Sea’s Maritime Levy Campaign.
In 2022 we heard from the New Zealand government that the changes implemented have been positively impactful to the tens of thousands of crew members who pass through New Zealand’s ports. We continue to work with government and maritime welfare providers to monitor the effectiveness of the legislative changes
Related Articles (Dated ordered oldest – newest)
New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance – March 2020 [Updated]: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/new-zealand-under-funding-seafarers-welfare-services-and-poor-mlc-compliance-march-2020-updated
New Zealand Government to change maritime law to fund seafarer’s centres – 11 March 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-change-maritime-law-fund-seafarers-centres
Impact of seafarers’ welfare maritime levy now evident in New Zealand, says Transport Minister – 11 March 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/impact-seafarers-welfare-maritime-levy-now-evident-new-zealand-says-transport-minister
Counsel’s Opinion: New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance – 3 April 2020: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/counsels-opinion-new-zealand-under-funding-seafarers-welfare-services-and-poor-mlc-compliance-3-0
New Zealand Transport Minister updates HRAS on Seafarer welfare funding legislation – 20 April 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-transport-minister-updates-hras-seafarer-welfare-funding-legislation
Seafarers Welfare Board for New Zealand fully concurs with HRAS Report – 22 April 2020: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/seafarers-welfare-board-new-zealand-fully-concurs-hras-report
In Force. New Zealand Amends Legislation to provide assured Seafarer Welfare funding – 1 July 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/force-new-zealand-amends-legislation-provide-assured-seafarer-welfare-funding
New Zealand Government drives legislative change in support of Seafarers’ Centres – 15 October 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-drives-legislative-change-support-seafarers-centres
Maritime New Zealand Requests HRAS Advisory Opinion on a Future Model for Sustainable Seafarer Welfare Funding – 29 November 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-new-zealand-requests-hras-advisory-opinion-future-model-sustainable-seafarer-welfare
New Zealand Government Department Seeks Public Review of Maritime Levy Options for Seafarer Welfare Funding - 24 July 2023: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-department-seeks-public-review-maritime-levy-options-seafarer-welfare
Sustainable New Zealand Welfare Funding Mechanism Close to Agreement but Rivalries Remain - 30 August 2023: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/sustainable-new-zealand-welfare-funding-mechanism-close-agreement-rivalries-remain
Strategies To Overcome Obstacles To Implementing A Maritime Welfare Levy In Australia For Assured Seafarer On-Shore Welfare Facilities - 10 October 2025: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/strategies-overcome-obstacles-implementing-maritime-welfare-levy-australia-assured-seafarer
Shortfall in funding for seafarer welfare raised in UK Parliament - 15 December 2026: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/shortfall-funding-seafarer-welfare-raised-uk-parliament
Western Australian Forum to Review Potential for Welfare Levies - 16 December 2025: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/western-australian-forum-review-potential-welfare-levies
Secure Funding needed for Seafarer Support Services during Port Calls - 4 February 2026: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/secure-funding-needed-seafarer-support-services-during-port-calls
Advocates step up as MLC turns 20 while Australian Government ignores sustainable seafarer welfare - 21 February 2026: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/advocates-step-mlc-turns-20-while-australian-government-ignores-sustainable-seafarer-welfare
Australian seafarer welfare centres hampered by chronic under-funding - 3 March 2026: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/australian-seafarer-welfare-centres-hampered-chronic-under-funding
Latest News
View all News
01 Jun 2026
ALERT: Seafarers Detained in Iran Over Possession of Hormuz-Related Phone Media
Access to Justice
Captain James T. H. Foong joins HRAS as a Global Ambassador
14 May 2026
About us
Criminalisation. 10 Indian Seafarers languish in Iran’s Bandar Abbas Jail since July 2025
11 May 2026
Access to Justice
Australian seafarer welfare centres hampered by chronic under-funding
03 May 2026
Law Reform and Policy Development
Projects and Initiatives
Teaching at World Maritime University on Human Rights at Sea frontline work
29 Apr 2026
Access to Justice
Law Reform and Policy Development
BlueRights conference highlights need for strengthened enforcement of MLC 2006
28 Apr 2026
Law Reform and Policy Development
Projects and Initiatives