Watch: Indian Crew Stuck Without Pay Onboard Offshore Vessel Pleads For Help

A group of 15 Indian seafarers stranded aboard an offshore support vessel in Indonesia are seeking help, claiming they haven’t been paid in months.

Their situation has once again brought global attention to the growing issue of seafarer abandonment, which unions are now calling a worsening crisis.

The seafarers are onboard the Star Apollo, a 1,500 gross ton vessel currently docked at the Batamec Shipyard in Indonesia.

According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the ship has remained in port since October 2024.

The crew, who began their contracts between four to eight months ago, allege they have not received any wages during this period.

With the help of the ITF, the crewmembers released a video on social media, where they are seen holding handwritten signs stating they are facing food shortages and have been threatened by ship managers for asking about their unpaid salaries.

They are pleading for support from Indian seafarer unions and the ship’s flag state to help them return home with their wages.

The Star Apollo, built in 2012, was sold earlier this year to Vindhyawashini offshore, a company based in Mumbai. The vessel is registered under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis.

According to ITF Global Inspectorate Coordinator Steve Trownsdale, the situation onboard has become extremely distressing, and the stress is beginning to affect the seafarers’ physical and mental well-being.

The ITF says it is actively working to help the crew recover almost $80,000 in unpaid wages.

The organisation had earlier warned, in January this year, that abandonment of seafarers is rising rapidly, calling 2024 the “worst year on record” for such cases.

ITF’s report revealed a shocking 87 per cent increase in the number of abandoned seafarers, from 1,676 in 2023 to 3,133 in 2024.

Even more alarming was the rise in vessel abandonment, which jumped 136 percent with 312 reported cases in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Abandoned seafarers often face months without pay, poor living conditions on board, limited food supplies, and lack of clean drinking water.

Many also work for extended periods without proper rest or medical attention, and in severe cases, they are left stranded for months or even years.

Maritime laws, including the Maritime Labour Convention, regulated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), require flag states to ensure the repatriation and welfare of abandoned seafarers.

However, delays in enforcement, lack of insurance, and owners denying responsibility often make it harder to resolve such cases.

The ITF stressed that poor oversight by flag and port states, along with a general lack of accountability from shipowners, continues to worsen the situation, leaving thousands of seafarers vulnerable and helpless.

$80,000 in unpaid wages.

15 crew on the STAR APOLLO haven’t been paid since the start of their contracts – 4 and 8 months ago.

The shipowner has abandoned these seafarers. This is unacceptable. The ITF Inspectorate is supporting the crew and working to recover the wages. pic.twitter.com/4gS7noaAh7

— International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) (@ITFglobalunion) April 16, 2025

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the ITF condemned the situation.

Reference: ITF

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