A maritime industry expert has highlighted concerns that seafarers are increasingly being viewed as collateral damage in Turkey's efforts to combat organized crime. The expert noted that the Turkish judiciary has been slow to respond to the plight of these seafarers, leaving them in precarious situations.
This issue means that crew members involved in incidents, even indirectly related to criminal investigations, face prolonged legal processes and uncertainty regarding their rights and repatriation. For freight forwarders and operations managers, this situation can lead to significant delays in vessel operations, potential crew changes, and increased costs associated with stranded seafarers or detained vessels. It also complicates vessel scheduling and compliance, as the legal status of crew and ships can remain unresolved for extended periods.
