In the last few years, it has been recognized more and more that human rights also play a role in the maritime sector. Human rights violations at sea are easy to overlook because they happen largely out of sight of most of society and they are based often on the structural power imbalances between seafarers or coastal residents and ship operators or far-away flag states. This article reveals some of the relationships between different actors and the potential for human rights violations in the maritime context. The article highlights the role and limitations of international law in this context. It will also be shown how different state and non-state actors, including consumers, can contribute to strengthening the protection of human rights at sea.