The ITF is calling on international regulators, port states, and the International Maritime Organization to take urgent action after a surge in abandonment cases this year – and maritime professionals can help tackle the problem too
New figures released in June 2025 by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) reveal yet another disturbing increase in the abandonment of seafarers worldwide.
Over 2,280 seafarers have been abandoned aboard 222 vessels in the first half of the year – with US$13.1 million in unpaid wages and a 30% year-on-year increase in cases .
They have been left stranded, often without pay, food, or medical support. By comparison, at this point in 2024, already the worst year on record for seafarer abandonment, there had been 172 cases involving 1,838 seafarers and US$11.5 million in unpaid wages.
A staggering 37% of all abandonment cases in 2025 have occurred in the Middle East and North Africa – the highest proportion of any region globally. Thirty-four percent have taken place in Europe (the majority in Turkey, yet to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention). Nearly 75% of abandoned vessels in 2025 so far are registered under flags of convenience.
'We are seeing a pattern of abuse that cannot be ignored and that must be confronted,' said ITF inspectorate coordinator Steve Trowsdale. 'In recent years, the Gulf region, and the UAE in particular, has seen a huge increase in seafarer abandonment cases. Both there and in Europe, much more must be done to crack down on the rogue shipowners who need to know there'll be consequences.
'Every single case of abandonment is a disgrace. It's an intentional abuse of human rights, and the failure to end abandonment exposes a systemic problem in the maritime industry.'
What is abandonment?
According to IMO/ILO guidelines, abandonment is characterised by the severing of ties between the shipowner and seafarer.
This occurs when the shipowner fails to fulfil fundamental obligations to the seafarer regarding timely repatriation, payment of outstanding wages, and provision of the basic necessities of life (e.g. food, accommodation, and medical care). Abandonment is considered to have taken place when the master has been left without the financial means to operate the vessel.
If you think your vessel might have been abandoned, visit the ITF website.
How can I help?
Keeping abandonment databases up to date is vital to tackling this growing problem.
If you suspect a ship has been abandoned, you should contact abandonment@itf.org.uk
The ITF will then log the incident in its database and report it to the International Maritime Organization.
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