London Maritime Academy is a trade name for London Premier Group
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Posted on : 7/23/2025, 9:42:20 PM
Seafarer abandonment is an international issue with widespread concerns, especially with the increased rate of abandoned vessels and seafarers around the world.
Additionally, the abandonment of seafarers is highly impacting the maritime industry with abandoned vessels, unpaid and unemployed seafarers; thus, all parties and authorities are working to solve the causes.
Today, we will share with you outstanding details about seafarer abandonment, the international maritime abandonment reasons, and what are the recorded impacts of abandoned ships and boats.
Seafarer abandonment occurs when shipowners abandon their vessels and crews on international waters or ports without any type of communication or basic support, in cruel situations that are considered threatening to their life and welfare.
Usually, based on an updated database, seafarer abandonment occurs when shipowners abandon seafarers because they fail to meet their legal obligations and pay the rights of sailors, including paying wages, providing water and food supplies on vessels, or ensuring repatriation.
Seafarer abandonment is one of the shady maritime activities, with serious impacts on seafarer mental health, physical health, and financial situation. Especially that workers cannot leave the ship till getting an authorised decision from the responsible flag state, due to their legal commitment to the ship, equipment, and cargo.
This abandonment activity violates many international maritime laws, including the defined International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations and Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006).
Ship abandonment or crew abandonment are two terms with the same reported concept of shipowners abandoning crews stranded on vessels without wages, food, water, or medical support on board for many reasons, including:
Financial failure is one of the biggest reasons for the abandonment of seafarers and vessels. As the shipowner may not have enough money to provide repatriation, wages, or any other costs, leading to abandoning seafarers onboard to avoid further payments.
This could happen when the ship has many shipowners or a shipowner with legal or financial responsibilities. Leaving the seafarers during a legal crisis without any support in a foreign port.
Not all countries follow or apply the international rules of the Maritime Labour Convention, which causes irresponsible shipowners to follow the easier solution and abandon seafarers and vessels.
There is a considerable percentage of abandoned and stranded vessels due to urgent needed repairs, accidents, or unpaid wages. However, having international ship insurance ensures safety and financial security for owners and seafarers as well.
All maritime safety training courses in London explain the serious impacts of seafarer abandonments on the maritime industry and especially the shipping of cargoes:
The issue of abandoned vessels could take months to be legally solved, and this, by default, leaves seafarers without wages and their families without financial support. Causing extreme financial stress to all seafarers and their families.
Without repatriation support, wages, healthcare, or proper food and water, seafarers may suffer for months on abandoned vessels without being able to leave the ship or go back home to their families.
Seafarer abandonment raises high health and safety concerns regarding the well-being of abandoned seafarers due to the lack of food, clean water, and medical care.
Vessel abandonment cases impact the reputation of shipping companies and the whole maritime industry, not only because of shipping delays, but also because of the hard conditions that will discourage new talent from entering the world of the seas.
Seafarer abandonment is an act that the IMO and all international maritime authorities are fighting to protect working crews from any risks or challenges.
Moreover, understanding maritime safety rules and regulations is the best way to protect yourself and your crew from similar situations.
