ITF Raises Alarm As Abandonment Cases Of Seafarers Already Surpass 2023 Total Figure

By Roland Ekama

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) on Friday released seafarer abandonment statistics for 2023 and highlighted the work of its inspectors worldwide to tackle the alarming figure.

According to statement ,In 2023, ITF dealt with 129 abandonment cases stating that the
problem is growing, and one of the key reasons is ‘Flags of Convenience’ (FOC) which allow cases of neglect to take place.

The graphics sighted by DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA highlight the work of ITF inspectors to challenge this rigged system, saying that in 2024, the number of abandonment cases are already at 2023 levels.

Abandonment is when a shipowner fails to carry out one of a number of obligations to seafarers, such as failure to pay wages, failure to repatriate, or leaves them aboard a ship with no clear information on when they can disembark.

Flags of Convenience is the term ITF gives to ships that ‘fly the flag of a country other than the country of ownership’. Workers onboard FOC vessels are more likely to experience.

The federation further attributed the alarming cases to very low wages , poor onboard conditions , inadequate food and clean drinking water , long periods of work without proper rest, and leading to stress and fatigue

However, ITF urged FOC’s shipowners to take advantage of minimal regulation , cheap registration fees , low or no taxes , and freedom to employ cheap labour from the global labour market