In light of the rising instances of seafarer abandonment, the World Maritime University (WMU) has unveiled a substantial research initiative called Seafarer Abandonment: A Focused Investigation into Regulatory Implementation. This project, backed by The TK Foundation, The ITF Seafarers’ Trust, and The Seafarers’ Charity, will assess the enforcement of existing international protections, particularly those outlined in the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), across various national jurisdictions.
Katie Higginbottom, Head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, highlighted the failures within maritime governance, emphasizing the urgent need to address regulatory enforcement weaknesses and the significant human costs to seafarers and their families. The data derived from this collaborative research is intended to confront the troubling issue of abandonment, which saw a staggering increase in reported cases—312 incidents affecting over 3,100 seafarers in 2024, marking an 87% rise from the previous year.
The situation continues to worsen, as recent reports indicated an additional 31% surge in 2025, bringing the total to 410 new cases impacting more than 6,000 seafarers. While better awareness may contribute to these numbers, the persistence of abandonment cases suggests serious deficiencies in the implementation of international protections, adversely affecting both workers and the maritime industry.
The study will also analyze the real-life experiences of abandoned seafarers and their families, examining socioeconomic and psychological impacts. Through engagements with affected individuals and support organizations, the research aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving regulatory practices and enhancing the welfare of seafarers globally. WMU will partner with several maritime universities across Asia to expand the data collection and share insights into the specific challenges faced by the most affected nationalities.
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