Indian seafarers are most abandoned in the world again

LONDON: Indian seafarers are the astir abandoned successful the satellite for the 3rd twelvemonth running.A full of 1,125 Indian seafarers were abandoned connected ships successful 2025 retired of a full of 6,223 seafarers abandoned crossed 410 ships worldwide, making 2025 the worst twelvemonth connected grounds for seafarer abandonment.The fig of Indian seafarers abandoned has gone up 25% compared to 2024, erstwhile 899 were abandoned. In 2023, it was 401. After Indians, the adjacent highest cohort to beryllium abandoned successful 2025 were Filipinos (539).India is the third-biggest supplier of seafarers successful the world, aft the Philippines and China.Worldwide the full fig of seafarers abandoned has accrued by 32% and vessel abandonments are up 31% compared to 2024, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), headquartered successful London.ITF information shows that seafarers were owed a full of $25.8 cardinal successful 2025 arsenic a effect of abandonment. From this, the ITF has recovered and returned $16.5 cardinal to seafarers.The 2 countries wherever astir vessel abandonments took spot were Türkiye and the UAE.Seafarer abandonment is defined arsenic failing to screen the outgo of a seafarer’s repatriation; leaving a seafarer without maintenance; oregon severing ties with a seafarer, including failing to wage wages for astatine slightest 2 months.

“It’s thing abbreviated of a disgrace that, yet again, we are seeing grounds numbers of seafarers abandoned by unscrupulous vessel owners,” said David Heindel, seat of the ITF seafarers’ section.An Indian seafarer abandoned with 3 Indian unit connected the “Eleen Armonia”, disconnected the seashore of Nigeria, since June, without pay, said: “I can’t slumber from stress, and if this continues I don’t cognize however it volition impact my health. I joined this vas rapidly due to the fact that the duty meant I could walk Christmas and New Year with my caller girl and family.

I person present missed these and an important household event. As seafarers, it feels truly shameful that we’re treated this way.

”Last Sept India’s Directorate General of Shipping blacklisted 86 vessels linked to recurrent Indian seafarer abuse.Three 100 and thirty-seven vessel abandonments successful 2025 were connected vessels sailing nether flags of convenience — flags of a state different than the state of ownership. These flags are commonly utilized by shadiness fleets (carrying sanctioned goods) to fell the individuality of the existent vessel proprietor and are associated with mediocre information standards and moving conditions.