More seafarers being abandoned on board their ships

Seafarers Statue, Odessa. A statue of mother and child await the return of their husband.

Just under 5,000 seafarers have been recorded as being abandoned on 336 ships since 2004. Figures from the IMO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported in Splash 24/7, indicate that, far from declining, instances of abandoning crew are worsening. In fact by last month, the IMO/ILO database had recorded 13 ships on which crew had been abandoned – ahead of the five-year average of 12-17 prior to 2018. A managing partner at one law firm suggested salary payment laws onshore could be made applicable at sea, thereby creating a system to stamp out crew abandonment.