The global maritime industry is facing a deepening crisis as the number of abandoned ships and crews continues to grow. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 54 cases of crew abandonment have already been reported in 2025, making it the second-worst year on record.
In 2024, the issue reached a new peak. Data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) revealed 310 cases of abandoned crews — a 118% increase from the previous record of 142 in 2023. Experts link this surge to the continued expansion of the so-called shadow fleet — a loosely regulated network of ships often sailing under flags of convenience with little to no oversight.
The problem of crew abandonment has worsened since the early 2020s — initially driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and now fueled by the rise of dark fleet operations. Seafarers are frequently left without food, water, medical supplies, or pay — sometimes for months or even years.
The issue was addressed at the ILO headquarters during talks to revise the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Newly agreed amendments include recognizing seafarers as essential workers, simplifying repatriation procedures, granting shore leave without visas, and strengthening protection against harassment and abuse onboard.
However, despite the adoption of joint IMO/ILO guidelines in 2022, the increasing number of abandonment cases shows that current enforcement mechanisms remain ineffective.
“The rising wave of crew abandonment must be stopped. The good done by the shipping industry is being overshadowed by this abuse. Fake flags, shadow fleets, and regulatory chaos create a fertile ground for exploitation. This should be a red flag for the entire sector. We need to rebuild the system to protect seafarers and hold violators accountable,” said Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, in an interview with Splash.
