New figures released by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) show seafarer abandonment at worst ever levels with 6,223 seafarers abandoned across 410 ships.
The numbers released by ITF for the year 2025 represent a 31% increase in such ship abandonments compared to 2024, and a 32% increase in seafarer abandonment.
Indian seafarers are the most affected with more than 1,000 abandoned out of a total of more than 6,000 abandoned seafarers in 2026, in accordance with ITF.
ITF data, which will be submitted in a report to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) ahead of its discussion at a legal committee meeting this year, also shows that seafarers were owed a total of $25.8m in 2025 as a consequence of the abandonments. From this total, the ITF has recovered and returned $16.5m to seafarers.
“It’s nothing short of a disgrace that, yet again, we are seeing record numbers of seafarers abandoned by unscrupulous ship owners,” said David Heindel, chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section.
“Every day, all around the world, seafarers face horrific violations of their human and labour rights, all so that bottom-feeding companies can make a quick buck at their expense. It’s very clear that this is a systemic issue in the industry – and that means we need the entire industry to come together with seafarers and their unions to say, ‘enough is enough’, and take action together to end this crisis.”
Seafarer abandonment is defined by the IMO under three criteria: failing to cover the cost of a seafarer’s repatriation; leaving a seafarer without necessary maintenance and support; unilaterally severing ties with a seafarer, including failure to pay contractual wages for a period of at least two months. The IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) run a joint seafarer abandonment database: of 410 abandonments last year, the ITF reported 400 (98 percent).
Indian seafarers were the worst affected national group in 2025, as in 2024, with 1,125 seafarers abandoned. At the end of 2025, the Indian government announced that ‘blacklisting’ measures would be taken to protect seafarers from ships with a record of repeat abandonments and other bad practices.
Filipino seafarers were the second worst affected, with 539 abandoned, followed by Syrians with 309 abandoned.
The worst region for abandonment was the Middle East, followed by Europe. The two countries where most ship abandonments took place – the countries with the highest number of vessels on which abandonments occurred – both of which have significantly higher abandonments than any other country, were Türkiye (61) and the United Arab Emirates (54).
Flag of Convenience (FOCs) vessels feature prominently in abandonment: 337 vessels abandoned in 2025 – 82% of the total – were flying FOC flags. The ITF estimates that around 30% of the entire 100,000-strong global fleet of merchant vessels fly FOCs.
ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton said: “How many more seafarers have to be put through the misery of abandonment until we see the changes that we know are needed to end this disgraceful practice?
“In 2025, we’ve yet again seen the worst year on record for seafarer abandonment. But this isn’t just a story about numbers, these are the people – the workers – who keep our economy moving forward being forced into absolutely desperate situations, far from home and often without any clear resolution in sight.
“As we’ve long said, the solutions to abandonment lie in accountability in the shipping industry ensuring that ship owners can’t dodge their responsibilities. The International Maritime Organization must be given more power to play a coordinating role in eradicating abandonment.”
The ITF is calling for three steps to be taken to tackle seafarer abandonment. First, flag states to be compelled to log a ship’s beneficial owner, including contact details, as a pre-condition for registration.
Secondly, national blacklisting of ships to protect seafarers from ships with repeated involvement in abandonment cases, following the lead of India’s DG Shipping.
Finally, the ITF is calling for government investigations into the use of flags of convenience, as it is currently underway in the USA.
