Katie Higginbottom

Katie Higginbottom

Head of  ITF Seafarers’ Trust

Katie Higginbottom was appointed Head of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Seafarers’ Trust in July 2018. Since then she has actively expanded the Trust’s reach through her relationships with maritime unions around the world and sought to increase the impact of the Trust’s work through close cooperation with the many international organisations addressing the welfare and wellbeing of seafarers. At the outbreak of Covid in early 2020, the Trust distributed GBP 1 million (USD 1.3 million) in emergency grants to frontline seafarer services within 6 weeks.

Katie joined the ITF Seafarers Section in 2005 where she played an active role in the ITF delegation to the ILO for negotiations and adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC). She was responsible for training the ITF inspectorate on the MLC and for monitoring its practical application, most notably on the issue of abandonment. She has worked extensively with maritime unions in the Black Sea region, East and West Africa and Myanmar.

What is your current role in the shipping industry?

I am the Head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust.

Can you describe your role as the Head of ITF Seafarers’ Trust? What are your primary responsibilities and focus areas, and how do you prioritize them on a day-to-day basis?

I am responsible for the overall management of the Trust’s activities – developing our strategy and leading our team of six, though ultimate responsibility for our decisions lies with the Board of Trustees. We aspire to improve the welfare and wellbeing of seafarers and their families through our program of grants and projects. We work with multiple stakeholders including seafarers’ welfare organizations such as Stella Maris and Mission to Seafarers, maritime trade unions seeking to enhance their services, research institutes such as World Maritime University and many more. We have a number of key areas of focus including access to shore leave, occupational safety and health including mental health and telemedicine.

What inspired you to pursue a career in maritime and international trade unions? How did your father’s career as a Radio Officer influence your perspective on the industry? How did your journey lead you to the ITF Seafarers’ Trust?

I originally studied languages – Russian and French and my first career was in international publishing – selling translation rights for Oxford University Press. At a certain point I decided to go back to university to study politics and economics and change to a career more in line with my ideals. I wrote my Masters dissertation on the challenges faced by migrant workers and did an internship with UNHCR. I applied for lots of jobs and eventually got an interview for the post of Senior Research Assistant at the ITF. Sadly my father had died a few months earlier so he never knew that I inadvertently followed his footsteps into the maritime sphere. My main motivation was a belief that trade unions are the best way to combat inequality and empower people to defend their rights and interests. In my youth there was much discussion about global capitalism – whether it could be a force for good, whether it was a necessary evil, either way the world has grown more unequal since those times and in spite of astonishing scientific and technological developments millions of people struggle to make a decent living. I think that trade unions are a key part of the struggle to address those imbalances. In a sense I stumbled into the maritime world but it is the most fascinating of industries and cultures with so many facets and so fundamental to all aspects of the global economy and geopolitics.

What led you to transition from ITF Maritime Operations to becoming the Head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust?

To be honest I just wanted the challenge and opportunity of a more senior position. I had looked at jobs outside the ITF but it’s a hard organization to leave – the idealism of the people and the network of international contacts is hard to beat. I didn’t especially want to work on the charitable side, but I’m very glad I made the move, it’s a perfect position for facilitating projects and helping other people with a vision to improve the lives of seafarers.

What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve faced since taking on the role of Head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust?

In the big picture, the covid pandemic was the most dramatic event and a challenge to rise to the occasion. We immediately convened a Board of Trustees and established a GPB 1 million fund and mechanism for awarding ‘Covid grants’. We had two aims – to support seafarers’ centres and services at risk of going out of business, and to support unions and others providing PPE, vaccination services and economic support for maritime communities. We managed to spend the money in 6 weeks, we secured another £500,000, then the pandemic became the new normal…

On a smaller scale, I was involved in a case of seafarers that had been imprisoned in Madagascar for alleged intention to smuggle rosewood. Initially they were sentenced to 5 years and then another twenty years. The local chaplain asked for our support to provide food and clothing for the seafarers who were from Bangladesh, China and Myanmar. We also provided funds for the families at home. The ITF appointed a lawyer to work with them and we spent some years trying to find a way to get them released. It was very politically sensitive due to the connection with illegal trade in endangered species but we persevered. Eventually this year thanks to a combination of good contacts with the ILO in Geneva and on the ground in Madagascar as well as a new Chinese ambassador, the seafarers were released. They lost five years of their lives, but it was the highlight of my year to see them finally free.

Can you share an example of a project that you are particularly proud to have supported through the Trust?

During the pandemic we initiated a photo competition to give seafarers a platform to share their experience of lockdown. We called it ‘Still at Sea’ and it really struck a nerve. We had nearly 3,000 submissions from all sectors of the industry and we invited the seafarers to share their thoughts alongside the photos. It’s a remarkable archive of that period of time when seafarers were expected to keep global trade moving whilst the borders were closed crew change made impossible. It already seems like a distant memory but the photos bring it all back in an instant. We continued the project, now called ‘Life at Sea’ (www.lifeatsea.co.uk) – it’s great for us to get an insight into how seafarers are feeling about their situation in the world – a combination of pride in the profession and sadness at missing out on life at home as well as awe at the natural world and the majesty of the vessels on which they work. We use the collection to raise awareness around seafaring life through exhibitions with maritime museums and in international organizations where policy is discussed. It gives us a great connection – and the seafarers love to have their photography recognized.

How do you prioritize which initiatives to fund when faced with numerous urgent needs?

We have a five year plan agreed with trustees that guides our priorities. Our grants are mostly reactive whereas our projects are more proactive. We try to identify ways in which to have maximum impact taking advantage of our connection to the ITF and the maritime unions. For example we have just signed off on a 3 year project with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization to build capacity in the implementation and enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

From your perspective, what are the key challenges seafarers face today?

It depends which seafarers you are talking about. Unfortunately maritime labour is subject to market forces. Where there is oversupply there is often low pay and minimal respect for fundamental rights, where there are shortages of highly skilled individuals the position is quite different. The underlying problem is the precarity of contract work which makes it very difficult for seafarers to complain or push for better standards. In the maritime sphere this imbalance of power is exacerbated by the legal structure of the industry and lack of transparency or accountability. The seafarers that were locked up in Madagascar were employed by a Chinese shipowner, on a ship registered (then deregistered) in Panama and as foreigners were easy scapegoats. The ever increasing number of abandonment seafarers is really scandal and blot on the industry. Seafarers today are also challenged by the consequences of conflict in the world and the need to adapt and learn new skills to deals with new technology and alternative, so called greener fuels, but this is somewhat beyond our scope of work. We are currently focused on issues around fatigue and the importance of having time to recharge for physical and mental health. We recently commissioned some excellent work on hours of work and hours of rest at sea (See https://www.seafarerstrust.org/publications for A Culture of Adjustment and Quantifying an Inconvenient Truth) and we’re about to conclude a survey on access to shore leave.

How has the life of a seafarer evolved over the past decade, both positively and negatively?

I’m not sure I’m really qualified to answer that question. In my current position and previous roles in the ITF I’ve seen a lot of the darker side of the industry. Certainly the pressure seems to be greater with much smaller crews and ‘just in time’ delivery. That said, from the submissions to the photo competition we see a more balanced picture with a lot of professional pride, ambitions to provide for the family and camaraderie on board.

What role do trade unions play in addressing injustices and improving the quality of life for seafarers?

Unions represent seafarers’ interests through the ITF in international organizations such as the ILO and IMO. They also negotiate collective bargaining agreements with shipowners where they improve the minimum standards especially for the lower ranks of the crew. In some countries, such as the Philippines, social services including hospitals and clinics are run by unions for their members, they are an essential part of the fabric of society. The ITF also has a network of around 140 ITF inspectors and contacts that support seafarers in difficulty in their ports.

How do you identify and collaborate with partners who align with the Trust’s mission? What qualities do you look for in organizations or individuals when supporting their initiatives? Can you share a memorable moment or success story that demonstrates the power of collaboration?

We’ve had over 40 years to develop strong relationships with all the established players addressing seafarers’ welfare. It’s both a big and a small world. When you are a funding organization people come to you. We are currently working on a project to bring national telemedical services together. They are all quite different in the their scale and scope but we have been able to help them collaborate over standardizing and collating their data.

What is your vision for the future of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust?

Seafarers’ welfare consists of supporting seafarers and improving conditions on board, in foreign ports, and at home. We could think up a visionary slogan but the key is to find good partners and to be open to new ideas. The most difficult thing is saying no to proposals that are either not practical or outside our remit.

How do you measure the impact of the Trust’s initiatives on the lives of seafarers and their families?

We get reports from our grantees and for large grants we do impact assessments tailored to each project. We also visit the projects to get a sense of the realities on the ground. When we’re working with welfare organizations we get feedback from the local unions.

If resources were unlimited, what would be your dream project to improve the maritime industry?

Unlimited resources wouldn’t be enough, I need a magic wand to wipe out substandard shipping and corrupt practices in the industry – like illegally charging recruitment fees or cheating seafarers out of their wages.

What have been the most rewarding moments for you as Head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust?

The moment when it was confirmed that the seafarers from the M/V Flying had been released from prison in Madagascar and were on flights home, paid by the Trust. Hopefully we do other things that have a wider impact, but when you get involved in individual cases, especially where peoples’ lives are being wasted, it becomes personal.

What skills and expertise do you consider essential for someone aspiring to work in the field and how did you develop these skills? How can they best prepare for such a career?

Familiarity with the maritime industry combined with an international perspective and a desire for social justice. You need some attention to detail and a sense of responsibility, especially when it comes to compliance with charity governance and risk management. You need to be able to manage and ideally inspire a team and to celebrate the work of all the other people working on the frontlines of the sector.

What educational background or specialized training would you recommend for someone aspiring to excel in this sector?

It can be useful to have direct experience of the maritime industry and in this particular role of how trade unions work, on the other hand it’s not rocket science so a willingness to learn and an ability to lead a team is a good start. I think my predecessors have all done the job in different ways according to their different strengths.

How do you maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life?

In the evening I stop working and have a glass of wine…

Throughout your career, what are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned?

Sometimes it’s good to pause and do nothing. It’s very important to have the right combination of people at the right time to move things forward. It’s easier to be successful and get things done from a position of seniority and don’t fret about things you can’t change.

What drives your passion for the shipping, and how do you stay motivated in such demanding roles? How do you stay motivated despite encountering the worst sides of the industry?

I am motivated by wanting to challenge the industry to be better. And the shipping industry is just endlessly interesting. It encompasses so many different worlds from transport, to brokering to insurance and all in a wildly global mix, it’s never boring.

What one piece of advice would you offer to someone aspiring to make a difference in maritime welfare?

Build a good network.

Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self?

Have more confidence and be more ambitious.