Ocean workers, exposed to the escalating dangers of climate change, should be acknowledged as a frontline group in global efforts to mitigate its impacts, according to a new report by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

The charity’s World Risk Poll Focus On: Risk Perceptions and Experiences of Ocean Workers reveals that these workers are among the most vulnerable to climate-related hazards, with 80% expressing concern about serious harm from severe weather.

The report draws on data from the 2024 World Risk Poll, conducted by Gallup, which surveyed 147,000 people across 142 countries.

It found that ocean workers are nearly three times more likely to identify climate change as the greatest risk to their daily safety (17%) compared to workers in other industries (6%).

The data underscores the unique challenges faced by those working at sea, where storms and unpredictable ocean conditions are intensifying.

According to the report, one in three ocean workers (33%) has experienced serious harm from severe weather in the past two years, compared to 20% of workers in other sectors.

The findings also highlight broader vulnerabilities.

Lack of training

Ocean workers reported the highest rates of workplace harm across all sectors, with 25% experiencing harm from their work in the past two years, compared to 18% of other workers.

Alarmingly, occupational safety and health (OSH) training is severely lacking, with 68% of ocean workers reporting they have never received such training, and only 25% having accessed it in the last two years.

Lloyd’s Register Foundation is urging governments, employers, and policymakers to recognise ocean workers as frontline workers in the context of climate change.

The charity calls for urgent action to improve safety training and protections to address the disproportionate risks faced by this group.

Nancy Hey, director of evidence and insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said, “It is imperative that we prioritise OSH training for ocean workers and change the assumption that this must only be done once. Training is a continuous process, not a one-off event, which requires adequate funding and widespread industry support.

“Stronger safety standards must be tailored to the unique challenges of working on, or near, the water, including protections against severe weather and isolation-related stress. Without them, ocean workers, who play such a pivotal role in our global economy, will be at increasingly heightened risk as our climate continues to change.”

“However, their frontline status means ocean workers will also have knowledge and expertise on how we can safely adapt to climate change, and this is learning we should look to draw on in other sectors as they are also put under increasing climate-related stress.”

Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., president of the World Maritime University, said, “Seafaring and commercial fishing have traditionally been recognised as the world’s most hazardous occupations. Aside from already challenging conditions that have perennially been associated with shipboard life, our ocean workers face new and even more serious risks brought about by climate change. The World Risk Poll provides us with important and updated data and evidence that should inform any policy designed to protect not only our ocean workers, but the planet itself.”

Chirag Bahri, international operations manager at the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), and a former seafarer, commented, “In addition to the harsh weather, ocean workers have to deal with a variety of internal issues which lead to anxiety and stress, such as loneliness, working with a diverse and international crew, and being physically separated from their loved ones. This study emphasises that ocean workers are also subject to quiet storms in the form of insufficient training and fear of job loss. Their wellbeing is just as important as the work they do, so they should receive better training that helps to promote their occupational health and safety. The global economy depends on their resilience and power, and in order to safeguard the environment and humanity, we must adopt sustainable solutions.”

AFI Robotics, a Saudi robotic engineering firm, is redefining safety in some of the most hazardous industrial environments by deploying robotic systems designed specifically for confined, toxic, and high-risk areas.

These systems are transforming how aboveground storage tanks, oily ponds, sludge basins, and pits are inspected and cleaned, dramatically reducing the need for human entry into dangerous spaces.

Central to AFI’s safety-first approach is a submersible inspection robot that performs ultrasonic thickness testing while tanks remain online.

Aligned with API 653 and RP 575 standards, the robot provides real-time data on tank floor integrity, enabling predictive maintenance and significantly reducing both downtime and worker exposure to high-risk conditions.

In environments where sludge poses serious health and operational risks, AFI’s robotic desludging system can remove up to 150 cubic metres per hour while mapping sludge volumes.

The real-time visualisation allows operators to assess progress from a safe distance, avoiding the need for manual entry and the dangers of toxic fumes or structural collapse.

The company also offers AI-driven visual inspection platforms equipped with cameras and automated defect recognition.

Safeguarding workers

These tools are designed for flammable and contaminated zones, enabling remote operators to detect cracks, corrosion, and other anomalies without ever entering the hazardous area.

All of AFI’s solutions are designed to improve safety metrics while maintaining operational continuity. With proven deployments across petrochemical sites and manufacturing hubs, the technology is making confined space entry (and the risks that come with it) an increasingly unnecessary part of industrial maintenance.

AFI Robotics is a Saudi-based engineering company that specialises in robotic inspection and cleaning technologies for industrial environments.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Al Khobar, the company designs and deploys advanced robotic systems for in-service tank inspections, sludge removal, and visual assessments in high-risk areas.

In 2022, the company entered a formal joint venture with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics.

It has also received the university’s Vision to Venture Award in recognition of its contributions to industrial robotics research.

“Our mission has always been to engineer solutions that remove risk without removing operational continuity,” says Rabieh Ghossainy, founder and managing director of AFI Robotics. “Whether it's storage tank inspections or pit desludging, we build systems that keep operations in service, without compromise.”

“Saudi Arabia is not just adopting advanced industrial technologies, we're engineering them,” said Talal Al Hamdan, chairman of AFI Robotics, and prominent Saudi entrepreneur and businessman in manufacturing, marine, and high technology solutions inclusive of logistics under ASH Group. “At AFI Robotics, we're proving that homegrown innovation can lead standards in safety, efficiency, and operational resilience. Our robotics are designed for the region, tested in the region, and ready to transform how critical infrastructure is managed on an industry level.”

Honeywell has announced that Southwest Airlines is equipping its entire Boeing 737 fleet with SmartRunway and SmartLanding software to bolster runway safety.

Enabled through the Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) already installed on Southwest’s aircraft, over 700 planes have been activated with this technology to date.

SmartRunway and SmartLanding enhance flight crew situational awareness during taxiing, take-off, and landing by providing aural and visual alerts to promote stabilised approaches.

The software proactively warns pilots of excessive speed, excessive altitude, or incorrect runway approaches, helping to prevent incidents that could lead to runway accidents.

Certified for most Airbus, Boeing, and numerous business aviation platforms, this technology strengthens safety across diverse aircraft types.

Other aviation safety solutions

Honeywell is also developing its next-generation runway safety solution, Surface Alerts (SURF-A), currently under testing with certification anticipated for commercial air transport aircraft in 2026, pending regulatory approval.

SURF-A leverages GPS data, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast equipment, and advanced analytics to deliver direct aural and visual alerts about potential runway traffic, further enhancing safety through the EGPWS platform.

This initiative builds on a long-standing partnership between Honeywell and Southwest. In 2015, Southwest selected Honeywell’s flight-deck systems for its order of 240 Boeing 737 MAX airliners, complementing its 737 Next Generation fleet already equipped with Honeywell cockpit avionics.

Southwest was also the first airline to adopt Honeywell’s Integrated Multi-Mode Receiver technology, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge aviation solutions.

"Today's pilots face increasing challenges including unpredictable weather and dense traffic in limited airspace, forcing them to make split-second decisions during takeoff and landing. Fortunately, as the challenges evolve, so does the technology that provides the information they need in real time," said Jim Currier, president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. "Southwest is continuing to put pilots and passengers first by investing in SmartRunway and SmartLanding software across its fleet."

"Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Southwest," said Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer at Southwest Airlines. "Honeywell's SmartRunway and SmartLanding software will provide our pilots with enhanced situational awareness to ensure the highest level of safety while operating on runways throughout the network."