From Our Correspondent, Chattogram: At a time when global shipping and maritime trade are projected to reach new heights, recent statistics released by international organisations have revealed a far darker reality for seafarers. According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and maritime industry publication Marine Insight, 2025 has emerged as the most devastating year in history for abandoned seafarers.
Record Number of Seafarers Abandoned
The report shows that a total of 6,223 seafarers were abandoned worldwide across 410 vessels in 2025. This marks a 32 percent increase compared to 2024. The number of ship abandonment cases has been rising steadily for the past six years, creating what experts describe as a deeply alarming situation for the global maritime trade sector.
Abandonment typically leaves seafarers stranded at ports or at sea without food, fuel, medical care, or wages, often for months at a time.
Indian Seafarers Face the Worst Impact
One of the most concerning findings of the report is that Indian seafarers make up the largest share of those abandoned. Data shows that 1,125 Indian sailors were left stranded on abandoned vessels last year.
The Philippines ranked second with 539 abandoned seafarers, followed by Syria with 309. The situation has raised serious questions about the safety and protection of seafarers from major labour-supplying countries like India within the global shipping industry.
Millions in Unpaid Wages
Beyond abandonment, unpaid wages remain a critical issue. The report estimates that abandoned seafarers were owed approximately 25.8 million US dollars in unpaid salaries in 2025.
While the ITF has managed to recover 16.5 million dollars through legal action and negotiations, a significant portion of wages remains unpaid, allegedly retained by unscrupulous shipowners.
Root Causes of the Crisis
Experts point to the widespread use of “flags of convenience” as the primary driver of the crisis. Around 82 percent of abandoned vessels were registered under flags such as Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands.
These registries often have lax regulatory frameworks, allowing dishonest shipowners to obscure their identities and evade responsibility. As a result, vessels and their crews are abandoned with little legal recourse.
Regional Hotspots Identified
The highest number of ship abandonment cases were reported in ports in Turkey, with 61 vessels, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 54 cases. International agencies believe that weak port-state oversight in parts of the Middle East and Europe has further aggravated the problem.
Call for IMO Intervention
ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton described the situation as “a disgrace to the shipping industry.” He has urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to introduce stricter regulations to prevent shipowners from hiding behind complex ownership structures or avoiding accountability.
According to the ITF, without stronger global enforcement and transparency, the abandonment of seafarers will continue to stain the reputation of the international shipping industry.
