The ISWAN SeafarerHelp 2025 Annual Review highlights ongoing issues faced by seafarers, notably contractual breaches and wage theft, which constituted 25.4% of all helpline cases. When combined with financial issues, these concerns accounted for nearly 40% of total calls, indicating widespread economic exploitation. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reported a record-high abandonment of seafarers, with 6,223 individuals left stranded across 410 vessels, marking a 31% increase from the previous year. This trend underscores significant non-compliance and the presence of rogue operators in the maritime industry.
Financially, abandoned seafarers were collectively owed $25.8 million in unpaid wages in 2025. While interventions recovered $16.5 million, over $9.3 million remains disputed, leaving many families in dire circumstances. The ITF’s data reveals that a staggering 82% of abandonments occurred on ships registered under Flags of Convenience (FOCs), particularly Panama, which lacks stringent regulatory oversight. This system enables shipowners to evade accountability, exacerbating the plight of seafarers.
The report also notes that the “shadow fleet” of untraceable vessels complicates matters further. These ships, often operating under false documentation, leave crews vulnerable and without support when issues arise. The psychological impact of wage theft and abandonment can be severe, leading to mental health crises among affected seafarers. In 2025, ISWAN reported a 35.9% increase in mental health cases, reflecting the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in maritime regulations to protect workers’ rights and ensure accountability.
