The global maritime industry is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with a significant surge in cases of vessel abandonment. By May 2025, a startling 158 cases of vessel abandonment had been recorded, representing a sharp increase from the 119 cases reported at the same point in 2024, reports ITF.
Growing Human Cost
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and its global network of inspectors are actively battling the exploitation of seafarers, particularly those working on ships registered under “Flag of Convenience” (FOC) registries. These registries are criticized for offering minimal oversight, creating an environment ripe for exploitative shipping practices.
In 2024, the ITF successfully recovered over $58.1 million in unpaid wages for seafarers. A significant portion of this, $13.5 million, was specifically returned to abandoned seafarers, highlighting the severe issue of crew abandonment.
The problem, however, appears to be escalating. Already in 2025, ITF inspectors have recovered $4.1 million for seafarers affected by abandonment. This comes as the number of abandonment cases continues to climb, leading the Federation to express serious concerns about the limitations of current enforcement mechanisms.
Steve Trowsdale, Head of the ITF Inspectorate, emphasized the growing challenges: “We’re dealing with owners who walk away from their obligations, often while sub-standard registers look on and do nothing.” He further noted the difficulty in identifying ship owners in many cases, and the unwillingness or inability of flag states to take action. This combination, Trowsdale warned, is contributing to a dangerous rise in impunity across the board within the industry.
The ITF has long campaigned against the FOC system, which it argues allows shipowners to avoid national labor laws, suppress wages, and operate in unsafe conditions. The Federation believes there should be a “genuine link” between a vessel’s true owner and the flag it flies, following the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The surge in abandonment cases, with a high percentage involving FOC ships, underscores the urgent need for robust regulatory reform and accountability from governments and international bodies.
Flags Of Convenience
In response to growing concerns over exploitative shipping practices and rampant seafarer abandonment, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has expanded its Flag of Convenience (FOC) list to include Tuvalu and Guinea Bissau, bringing the total number of countries on the list to 45. Both newly added countries are reportedly linked to “shadow fleets” involved in transporting sanctioned oil and evading regulatory scrutiny.
FOC states enable shipowners to register their vessels in jurisdictions that offer minimal taxes, relaxed labor standards, and often, secrecy regarding ownership. This system, according to the ITF, directly contributes to seafarers on FOC ships facing low wages, excessive working hours, and unsafe working conditions. Currently, over 50% of the world’s merchant fleet is registered in FOC states, and critically, more than 80% of abandoned vessels are also registered to FOCs. This system allows unscrupulous actors to profit while leaving seafarers highly vulnerable to exploitation.
Cotton, an ITF representative, vehemently stated, “Shipping is the engine of global trade, yet its workers are treated as disposable.” He called for the exposure and reform of the FOC system, advocating for a fundamental change where “Every vessel must carry a flag that can prove a transparent, traceable link to its true beneficial owner.” Cotton further urged regulators to be “armed – and willing – to detain and penalise those who walk away from their crews.” He concluded that “Only through that genuine link and robust enforcement will we eradicate the scourge of abandonment and build the safe, fair industry seafarers deserve.”
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Source: International Transport Worker’s Federation
