Record seafarer abandonment highlights need for greater awareness and support

Record seafarer abandonment highlights need for greater awareness and support
The Editorial Team September 23, 2026 https://safety4sea.com/watch-protecting-crews-as-seafarer-abandonment-re...

For thousands of seafarers, the end of a voyage does not always mean a safe return home. With abandonment cases continuing to threaten crews and their families worldwide, The Seafarers’ Charity has released the final films in its “Smart Seafaring. A Safe Return” campaign.

Released ahead of World Maritime Day on 24 September, the films aim to help seafarers and their families recognise the warning signs of abandonment, take practical steps to protect themselves and understand where to seek help if a situation deteriorates.

According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation, 2025 was the worst year on record for seafarer abandonment, with 410 vessels and 6,223 seafarers affected — more than 30% higher than in 2024.

Under the IMO/ILO Guidelines, a seafarer is considered abandoned when a shipowner fails to cover the cost of repatriation, provide basic necessities such as food and accommodation, or pay contractual wages for at least two months.

The guidelines also refer to the “severance of ties”, including situations where a ship’s master is left without the financial means to operate the vessel. Abandonment can leave seafarers stranded in a foreign port or onboard a vessel with no means of returning home.

Recognising the warning signs

Wages being delayed or going unpaid.
Communication with the company becoming difficult or stopping altogether.
Supplies of food, water, fuel or medical provisions running low.
Repatriation being discussed vaguely or repeatedly postponed.
The shipowner, manager or insurer failing to respond.

The Seafarers’ Charity said the films are designed to provide practical and accessible information to seafarers and their families before a situation escalates.

This year’s World Maritime Day theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”, also highlights the importance of turning maritime policies and commitments into practical support for those working at sea.

All three animated films are now available alongside guidance in six languages commonly spoken among seafarers. The scale of the problem has also continued to grow.

Policy only makes a difference when it’s put into practice. For seafarers, that means making sure they have access to clear information that can help them make informed decisions and know where to turn. By making guidance available in common seafaring languages, we can reach more seafarers and their families with information that could help them avoid the devastating consequences of abandonment. …said Deborah Layde, chief executive of The Seafarers’ Charity.

‘Smart Seafaring. A Safe Return’ was launched in June to coincide with 2026’s ‘Day of the Seafarer’. The completed resources cover the key stages of a seafarer’s journey, from considering a new job and checking the legitimacy of an employer or vessel, through to understanding what to do if wages are not paid or a seafarer is left without the support they are entitled to.

Why this matters

Abandonment puts you at immediate risk of hardship, mental strain, and unsafe conditions. Your family may be affected too, not just by the absence of a loved one but also because lost wages can affect the household.
What to do before joining a vessel

Before signing a contract, check the basics carefully.
Make sure the contract states wages, overtime, leave, and repatriation terms.
Verify the ship’s IMO number and basic vessel details and share with family.
Ask who the owner, operator, and insurer are.
Check that the MLC financial security certificate is on board or available and that the contact details are readable.
Keep copies of the contract, vessel details, and emergency contacts at home.
Consider joining a trade union, which will usually provide protections and support to members.

What to do on board

If you think that you have been abandoned, seek help early. Abandonment affects everyone on board, including the master and senior officers. The crew should work together to document concerns, seek assistance and alert the appropriate authorities as early as possible. Early action can help protect the safety, welfare and rights of everyone on board.

Prioritise your safety.
Keep a record of missing wages, poor provisions, and any refusal to repatriate.
Contact the ITF, your trade union or a seafarers’ welfare organisation, such as ISWAN, CHIRP or Sailors’ Society’s Crisis Response Network (CRN), as early as possible.
Identify the flag State from the ship’s MLC documents and ask for help contacting its maritime authority. If the ship is in port, contact Port State Control or the port authority.
If you cannot identify or contact the appropriate authority, contact your country’s embassy or consulate for assistance.
Keep copies or photographs of the MLC and financial security certificates, if it is safe to do so.
Ask for repatriation, food, water, medical care and recovery of unpaid wages under the ship’s financial security arrangements.
Inform a trusted family member of the situation, where it is safe and practical to do so.

Support for families

Keep regular communication through more than one channel.
Save the vessel’s details and the seafarer’s contract.
Agree a simple code word for communicating distress.
Act quickly if contact stops or wages are delayed.
Contact ITF, the seafarers’ trade union, ISWAN, CHIRP or Sailors’ Society’s Crisis Response Network early if something feels wrong.
Where possible, maintain a small emergency fund to cover immediate household needs if wages stop.