Our seafarers are the backbone of the maritime industry; neglecting their needs and failing to meet their expectations, for any reason, is wrong. There is a humanitarian element when they remain hopeless on board a ship without food or money to return home. But also, from a business perspective, it creates a wrong image of the shipping industry, which is seen as an unregulated sector without rules that should not be trusted by younger generations.
The maritime industry is responsible for transporting over 80% of the world’s trade. Yet, behind the impressive statistics of TEUs and deadweight tonnage lies a serious humanitarian emergency. Recent data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reveals that seafarer abandonment has reached new heights, with 2025 officially recorded as the worst year in history for crew welfare.
While shipping companies celebrate record profits and discuss the merits of "green fuels," the "human element" is increasingly being discarded by unscrupulous shipowners who regard crews as disposable assets. When a ship is abandoned, it is not merely a legal matter; it involves a group of human beings stranded on a ship without wages, food, or a way home.
A "Disgraceful" Year for Global Shipping
According to the latest figures submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and tracked by the ITF, 2025 saw a 32% increase in seafarer abandonment compared to 2024. This marks the sixth consecutive year that vessel abandonment records have been shattered, signaling a systemic failure in the enforcement of international labor standards.
The financial impact is equally devastating. In 2025 alone, abandoned seafarers were owed over $25.8 million in unpaid wages. While the ITF has recovered approximately $16.5 million, many families are still owed the pay they are owed for their work.
The psychological impact is difficult to measure. Picture being trapped on a ship in a foreign port, unable to go ashore because of visa issues, with no electricity, decreasing rations, and a family back home at risk of eviction due to six months of unpaid wages. This situation affects thousands of mariners today.
The Global Abandonment Landscape
Abandonment is not a localised issue, but certain regions and nationalities are disproportionately affected. The data shows a clear pattern: shipowners often recruit from countries with high unemployment rates, knowing these seafarers may be less likely—or less able—to fight back legally.
Indian seafarers continue to be the most vulnerable group, representing nearly 20% of all reported cases. This is followed by Filipino and Syrian crews. These men and women often find themselves caught in a jurisdictional "no man's land" between the ship's flag state, the port state where they are docked, and their home governments.
Top Affected Nationalities (2025 Statistics)
The Middle East remains the primary "hotspot" for these cases, followed closely by Europe. Specifically, Türkiye (61 vessels) and the United Arab Emirates (54 vessels) recorded the highest number of abandonment incidents globally last year. These regions often serve as graveyard shifts for aging tonnage where owners decide it is cheaper to walk away from the ship than to pay the crew and the repair bills.
The Role of "Flags of Convenience"
A recurring theme in the ITF's findings is the correlation between abandonment and "Flags of Convenience" (FOC). These are registries—such as Panama, Palau, and Tanzania—that often provide shipowners with anonymity, low taxes, and minimal regulatory oversight.
In 2025, a staggering 82% of all abandoned vessels were flying FOC flags. This system allows "ghost" owners to hide behind layers of shell companies. When a vessel becomes a liability, the owner simply stops answering the phone. The flag state, which is paid to provide oversight, often lacks the resources or the political will to intervene, leaving the ITF and local charities to pick up the pieces.
Current High-Risk Vessels: The ITF Abandonment List
The ITF maintains a live abandonment list to track unresolved cases and provide transparency to the industry. This list serves as a "hall of shame" for owners and a warning for seafarers looking for work. Below is a snapshot of currently open cases as of early 2026:
The Legal Safety Net: Is It Enough?
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) was supposed to be the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights." It includes an amendment requiring shipowners to maintain compulsory insurance covering up to 4 months of outstanding wages and repatriation costs.
Nevertheless, the "2025 Crisis" has revealed significant gaps in this safety net:
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Expired Certificates: Many abandoned vessels are found to have expired insurance policies that the flag state failed to verify.
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The "Four-Month" Limit: Owners often delay payments just enough to exceed the insurance coverage, leaving crews with months of unrecoverable debt.
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Non-Ratification: Some states have still not ratified the MLC, meaning ships operating in those waters have almost no legal protection for the crew.
Driving Real Change: What Needs to Happen
The ITF is calling for more than just sympathy; they are demanding structural reform. Shipping cannot be truly "modern" if it remains inhumane. To solve the abandonment crisis, the industry must adopt a multi-pronged approach:
1. Beneficial Ownership Transparency
The "anonymous shipowner" must become a thing of the past. The ITF is pushing for flag states to require a "natural person" to be listed as the beneficial owner. If you own a ship, you shouldn't be allowed to hide behind a PO Box in the Marshall Islands.
2. National Blacklisting
Governments must take a stand. India has recently led the way by blacklisting specific vessels and owners with a history of abandonment, preventing them from entering Indian ports. If a company abandons a crew once, they should lose the right to trade globally.
3. Financial Security Enforcement
Port State Control (PSC) officers need to be more aggressive. Checking a ship’s "paperwork" isn't enough; they must verify that insurance premiums are actually paid and that crews are receiving their wages in full and on time.
4. The Role of the Consumer
In an era of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, major retailers and oil majors must audit their supply chains. If a "Big Tech" company or a "Fast Fashion" brand is moving goods on ships that don't pay their crews, they are complicit in modern slavery.
Conclusion
Seafarers are the backbone of our maritime industry. They sacrifice months away from their families to ensure that ships and trade are running. To leave them stranded on a rusting ship without a cent to their name is not just a breach of contract; it is a moral failure of the highest order.
The ITF abandonment list is a call to action. It is time for the maritime industry to stop looking the other way and start treating its most valuable asset—the seafarer—with the dignity and respect they have earned.
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