New data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reveals abandonment of seafarers by ship-owners increased by 87% in 2024 from the previous year.
According to ITF, the abandonment of seafarers is spiralling out of control, increasing nearly two-fold with 3,133 seafarers abandoned by ship-owners in 2024 compared to 1,676 in 2023. A total 312 vessels were abandoned last year compared to 132 vessels in 2023 – a 136% increase. Twenty-eight ships were also responsible for abandoning multiple crews in the same year, with three vessels reported three times and 25 reported twice.
Abandoned seafarers can experience months of unpaid wages, extremely poor on-board conditions, inadequate food and clean drinking water, and long periods of work without proper rest. In some cases, they are left completely stranded for months – even years – on end, ITF notes.
90% of global trade takes place through maritime transport and seafarers are the backbone of this industry. It’s an absolute disgrace that unscrupulous ship-owners are abandoning so many crews with impunity by governments and international regulators. This is nothing less than a betrayal of the key workers of global trade.
… said Steve Trowsdale, ITF Global Inspectorate Coordinator
Vessel abandonments by port and flag states in 2024
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top Port State for vessel abandonments in 2024, accounting for 42 cases. The second-highest Port State was Türkiye, with 25 vessels abandoned.
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Panama had the highest number of abandonments by flag state, with 43 vessels. Other flag states with significant increases in abandonments include:
- Palau: 37 cases
- Tanzania: 30 cases
- Comoros: 29 cases
- Cameroon: 20 cases
- Bahrain: 16 cases
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Twenty cases involved vessels with no identifiable flag or where a flag could not be determined—more than doubling the previous number in this category.
The scandalous rise in reported cases of seafarer abandonment exposes the ugly truth of an industry which has relied on unchecked exploitative practices and lack of global regulation for far too long. But the solution lies in plain sight: better regulation, enforcement and accountability from governments.
… commented Stephen Cotton, ITF’s General Secretary, adding that those responsible must be held to account and punished. Anything less gives a green light to these appalling abuses of fundamental labour and human rights.
To remind, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are 1,145 abandonment incidents listed in joint IMO/ILO database since it was established in 2004, concerning 16,569 seafarers.
