LABOUR body the International Transport Workers Federation has called for industry accountability after reporting an increase in seafarer abandonment this year.
‘Abandonment’ is defined as when seafarers are denied pay for two or months, or are left stranded, or without food or medical support.
According to the ITF, more than 2280 seafarers have been abandoned aboard 222 vessels so far this year - a 30% year-on-year increase - with $13.1 million in unpaid wages.
“Thirty seven percent of all abandonment cases in 2025 have occurred in the Arab World, while 34% have taken place in Europe,” the ITF stated.
“The flags of convenience (FOC) system remains central to the crisis with nearly 75% of abandoned vessels in 2025 under FOCs.”
The FOC practice refers to the practice of registering a merchant ship in a register of a country other than that of the ship's owners.
While much criticised, it also has its defenders who argue it is an important facet of modern maritime trade.
But the ITF is in no doubt.
“These flags offer owners anonymity, deregulation and immunity from scrutiny – at the direct expense of seafarer rights,” it stated on a social media post.
“The ITF is demanding accountability. If we allow this exploitation of seafarers to continue, we destroy the workforce that global trade depends on.”
In the Australian context, AMSA has previously sought to improve seafarer welfare, announcing a new concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) last year in conjunction with the Tokyo and Indian Ocean MoUs.
Maritime Industry Australia chief executive Angela Gillham said any abandonment of seafarers was an issue that “absolutely should be addressed”.
“There is a spectrum of operators and owners out there,” Ms Gillham said, noting that laws needed to be not only implemented but upheld.
“This is not only for humanitarian reasons, though that is very important, but also in creating a level playing field among operators and nations," she said.
Sydney Mission to Seafarers principal chaplain Reverend Un Tay said the report offered "a sobering yet necessary spotlight on critical vulnerabilities in seafarer wellbeing—particularly in a post-pandemic landscape".
He called for an emphasis on holistic care and seafarer wellbeing, including spiritual life and spiritual health.