- 19 seafarers, including Indians, Bangladeshi, and Ukrainian nationals, were stranded aboard a UAE-based tanker for over 15 months.
- The vessel has no registered flag, lacks insurance, and uses invalid contracts citing non-existent ITF agreements.
- The ITF has officially recorded the case in IMO and ILO abandonment databases and calls for urgent UAE intervention.
- UAE ranks among the highest globally for seafarer abandonment, with 32 cases reported in the first eight months of 2025.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has urged authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take immediate action after a group of seafarers was left stranded aboard a vessel in the Persian Gulf. The crew, including nationals from India, Bangladesh, and Ukraine, have been confined on board for periods exceeding the maximum duration allowed under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), with some contracts having expired months ago without repatriation, according to the report published by Marine Insight.
Rising Concerns Over Seafarer Abandonment in the UAE
The tanker involved is owned by a UAE-based company under United States sanctions since April 2025. The vessel reportedly has no registered flag, lacks insurance, and the seafarers’ contracts cite non-existent ITF collective bargaining agreements. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) considers this case a clear instance of abandonment under international law and has formally recorded it in the International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisation abandonment database.
An ITF spokesperson described the incident as a stark example of how seafarers can become invisible victims of illegal oil trading. The federation emphasized that UAE maritime authorities must act swiftly to resolve the situation and ensure the crew’s repatriation.
The ITF also highlighted the growing risk of abandonment in the UAE, noting that 32 cases were reported in the first eight months of 2025, second only to Türkiye, which recorded 43. Despite its status as a major maritime hub, the UAE has not ratified the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), leaving stranded seafarers with limited legal protection.
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Source: Marine Insight
