Indians most abandoned seafarers in the world in 2024: Report

Indians most abandoned seafarers in the world in 2024: Report
NAOMI CANTON Jan 28, 2025 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/indians-most-abandoned-seaf...

Indians most abandoned seafarers in the world in 2024: Report

LONDON: Indian seafarers are the most abandoned in the world for the second year running, with 899 Indian seafarers abandoned on ships in 2024 out of a total of 3,133.

The year 2024 is now the worst on record for seafarer abandonment. There has been an 87% increase compared to 2023 when 1,676 seafarers were abandoned, of which 401, also the largest cohort, were Indian, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), headquartered in London.
After Indians, the next highest cohort to be abandoned in 2024 were Syrians.

A total 312 vessels were abandoned last year compared to 132 vessels in 2023 — a 136% increase, while 81% of abandoned vessels in 2024 sailed under a flag of convenience (FoC) to avoid being subject to labour and safety regulations.

“Indian seafarers are abused in this way because there is a desperation for jobs in India. They are also much more aware of what abandonment looks like and aware they can report it,” explained Steve Trowsdale, ITF global inspectorate coordinator.

Chief engineer Sanjay (name changed) from Tamil Nadu has been stranded on a tug anchored near Bangladesh flying an FoC from Palau for 30 months since 2022. He is currently owed nine months’ wages. He has lost his house and 70% of his jewellery owing to defaulting on loans owing to not being paid. “I have been fighting with management to get released for 18 months. I am in demand, getting daily calls with other jobs. I need them to pay me $36,000 and then it’s their responsibility to repatriate me,” he told TOI. The vessel, which is transporting stone boulders from India to Bangladesh to make breakwaters, is chartered by a Dubai-based company. Thevessel was arrested in April 2023 as the owner owes money to vendors in Bangladesh.

Second officer Shubham (27) of Madhya Pradesh was one of 10 Indian crew members abandoned on a tug in the Maldives for six months without pay. The vessel, which has an owner in Dubai and flies under an FoC, was sailing back and forth from Thoothukudi transporting rocks and boulders.

“No salaries came, so eventually we stopped sailing and refused to move back to India,” he said. Once they refused to budge, they faced a shortage of provisions, water and food, and also noticed the vessel insurance had expired.

The Maldives island owner then came on board and told them they had to move as it was private property and threatened to get the vessel arrested. Thanks to intervention from ITF, he and the rest of the crew got sent food and finally got paid in Dec, two weeks before their contracts expired.

“I have just pulled two Indian seafarers back from South Africa who were trafficked by the agent onto an abandoned ship owned by an Iranian. And when their visas expired, one of them was put in jail in South Africa,” Trowsdale said. “They are deemed to be victims of trafficking by South Africa. We have had an Indian cadet trafficked into Iran who spent nine months there without stepping on a ship. He had to pay them Rs 54,000 to get his passport back to leave. A lot of it is down to unscrupulous agents and jobs advertised on places like Facebook,” Trowsdale added.

ITF has submitted its abandonment report to the International Maritime Organisation.“I am not sure what they can do. UN agencies have no teeth to enforce anything,” Trowsdale said.

Stephen Cotton, ITF’s general secretary, said: “By reporting so many cases, seafarers are sending a clear message. They’ve had enough of being treated like slaves. The solution lies in plain sight: better regulation, enforcement and accountability from governments.”
An abandoned seafarer is one who has been left without pay for at least two months, or who is not receiving adequate provisions, or has not been repatriated at the end of their contract.