Indian Seafarers Most Abandoned In The World In 2024, ITF Report Says

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has declared 2024 the worst year on record for seafarer abandonment. New data reveals an 87% rise in abandonment cases compared to 2023, with 3,133 seafarers abandoned last year, up from 1,676 the previous year.

A total of 312 vessels were abandoned in 2024, marking a 136% rise from the 132 vessels in 2023. Among these cases, 28 ships were responsible for abandoning multiple crews, with three vessels reported thrice and 25 reported twice.

The ITF’s report, submitted to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), discusses the failure of the Flags of Convenience (FoC) system, which has allowed shipowners to evade accountability.

The report criticises the lack of enforcement from flag and port states, insufficient vessel insurance, and shipowners’ refusal to acknowledge their mistreatment of crews.

Abandoned seafarers often face months of unpaid wages, poor living conditions, inadequate food, and clean drinking water, and prolonged periods without proper rest. Many remain stranded for months or even years without hope of resolution.

Steve Trowsdale, the Global Inspectorate Coordinator at ITF, stated that 2024 was the worst year for seafarer abandonment and described the situation as a betrayal of the workers who are the backbone of global trade. He added that 90% of global trade depends on maritime transport, and such mistreatment of seafarers is disgraceful.

One of the abandoned seafarers, Sanjay (name changed to protect the identity of the person) described his unpleasant experience of being stranded on a tugboat near Bangladesh for 29 months, 15 of which were without pay.

“All I’ve had are false promises that I will be paid and allowed to leave,” he said. Sanjay, the only engineer onboard, continued to work to support the crew but revealed he had lost hope.

Sanjay, who owed $40,000, admitted that he had sold family heirlooms to support his family. “I haven’t told my family about what’s happened to me; I don’t want them to worry,” he said.

Indian seafarers remained the largest group affected, with 899 abandoned in 2024. They were followed by 410 Syrians, 288 Ukrainians, 273 Filipinos, and 192 Indonesians. The ITF reported that $20.1 million in unpaid wages was owed to seafarers, of which $10.4 million has been recovered.

Trowsdale explained that Indian seafarers are often targeted due to desperation for jobs and their awareness of reporting mechanisms.

Another Indian seafarer, Shubham, recounted being abandoned for six months on a tug in the Maldives. The vessel’s insurance had expired, and the crew faced food and water shortages.

After the ITF intervened, Shubham and his colleagues were paid shortly before their contracts expired.

The UAE emerged as the leading port state for vessel abandonments, with 42 cases reported in 2024. Dubai, a growing maritime hub due to its free trade zones and tax exemptions, has also become a hotspot for abandonments.

The report said that vessels owned or managed by UAE companies accounted for a major share of the cases.

Flags of Convenience played an important role, with 90% of abandoned vessels operating under such registries. Panama topped the list with 43 cases, followed by Palau (37), Tanzania (30), Comoros (29), Cameroon (20), and Bahrain (16).

Alarmingly, 20 cases involved vessels with no identifiable flag.

Stephen Cotton, General Secretary at ITF, discussed the need for better regulation and enforcement to address seafarer abandonment. He said that the rise in reported cases shows seafarers’ frustration with exploitative practices.

“The industry must wake up and take robust action. Those responsible must be held to account and punished,” Cotton stated.

The abandoned tugboat Navimar 3 off Bangladesh shows the severity of the growing crisis. The vessel, flying Palau’s flag, has been stuck since 2022.

Chief engineer Sanjay revealed that the owner owes him $36,000, and the vessel was arrested in 2023, due to unpaid debts.

Reference: ITF

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