The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has reported a concerning 11% increase in the number of abandoned vessels in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Seafarers are considered abandoned if their employer fails to pay for their return home, neglects their maintenance and support, or ends their employment unilaterally, including not paying their wages for at least two months.
The ITF documented 129 out of 132 abandonment cases in 2023, with unpaid wages exceeding $12.1 million. A total of 1,676 seafarers from abandoned ships reached out to the ITF, with over 400 of these cases involving Indian seafarers.
So far, the ITF has recovered over $10.9 million in owed wages from 60 of these vessels. The total amount recovered is expected to surpass $12.1 million as ongoing cases are resolved and more seafarers come forward.
The ITF criticized the rising trend of seafarer abandonment, describing it as a result of an industry that treats seafarers as disposable. The organisation highlighted the severe impact on seafarers and their families due to shipowners’ greed and non-compliance, which undermines their well-being, dignity, and basic human rights.
In late 2022, a joint working group from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) established guidelines to address seafarer abandonment. However, the 11% rise in cases the following year underscores the persistence of the issue.
These guidelines outline the procedures for states when a shipowner fails to meet their obligations for repatriating seafarers, paying outstanding wages, and providing essential needs like medical care. Seafarers in these situations are deemed abandoned. The procedures include creating national standard operating procedures (SOPs) in collaboration with seafarer and shipowner organizations to clearly define the responsibilities and roles of various national stakeholders, such as seafarers’ welfare boards, shipping agencies, and recruitment services.