SOS At Seas: Seafarers Abandonment Hits Devastating New Highs—Urgent Action Needed

New figures from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)has revealed that seafarer abandonment is escalating sharply, with 158 cases recorded by May 2025, up from 119 at the same time in 2024.

According to ITF , this trend follows a record-breaking 2024, which saw 3,133 seafarers abandoned across 312 vessels—a 136% increase in abandoned ships from 2023 and an 87% rise in abandoned seafarers overall.

Seafarers affected by abandonment often endure months without pay, food, water, or access to ports, sometimes stranded for extended periods.

The ITF highlights systemic failures including inadequate enforcement by flag and port states, lack of vessel insurance, and shipowners’ refusal to acknowledge mistreatment, all contributing to this growing crisis.

Steve Trowsdale, ITF Global Inspectorate Coordinator, condemned the situation as a betrayal of the essential workers who underpin 90% of global trade.

Trowsdale called for urgent reforms to address this worsening humanitarian and labour rights issue.