A SIGNIFICANT number of “bad actors” in the global maritime sector is a key factor in the high number of seafarer abandonments, ITF Australia coordinator Ian Bray says.
Mr Bray, along with ITF advocacy expert Sandra Benal, spoke at the Wellbeing at Sea Conference 2026 held this week in Adelaide.
He said the flow-on effects from abandonments were significant, with seafarers’ families, typically from poorer countries, left financially exposed.
“These are extended families who are reliant upon those incomes. Often they will take out loans with loan sharks and then if the pay doesn’t come the loan sharks start intimidating them and committing acts of violence against them” Mr Bray told the gathering.
“This can lead to depression or mental health problems and very negative outcomes.
“It is a challenge for the industry that we need to get our heads around.”
Ms Benal noted increasing cases, with 410 ships abandoned in 2025 (affecting more than 6000 seafarers), 30% more than in 2024.
Seafarers from India have become the most abandoned nationality, followed by seafarers from Indonesia.
With many early incidents reported this year, Ms Benal predicted similar case numbers to last year, if not more.
According to the ITF, 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.
Ms Benal said most cases were associated with open registries, sometimes (and contentiously) called ‘flag of convenience’ ships.
“There are still abandonments with national flags, but generally they are with FOCs,” she said.
Also addressing the gathering was Rightship vetting officer Alistair Swan who talked about what RightShip could do to encourage better practices.
See below for more DCN stories about seafarer abandonment: