According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), over 2,280 seafarers have been abandoned on 222 vessels in 2025, marking a 30% increase from the previous year. These individuals often face dire conditions, lacking pay, food, and medical assistance, with unpaid wages totaling $13.1 million. This trend is particularly alarming in the Arab World, where 37% of abandonment cases have occurred, followed by 34% in Europe, mainly in Turkiye.
The ITF emphasizes the urgent need for Gulf states and European nations to hold shipowners accountable for these abandonments. Steve Trowsdale, ITF Inspectorate Coordinator, described the situation as a systemic abuse of human rights, calling for stronger actions against rogue shipowners. He noted that nearly 75% of abandoned vessels are registered under Flags of Convenience (FOCs), which allow owners to evade responsibilities and oversight.
The ITF is urging international regulators to take immediate action, warning that continued inaction threatens not only the lives of seafarers but also the integrity of the shipping industry. Trowsdale stressed the need for accountability to protect the workforce essential for global trade.
