Indian seafarers have emerged as the most abandoned nationality in the world for the third consecutive year, as global ship abandonment reached its highest level on record in 2025, according to data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
A total of 1,125 Indian seafarers were abandoned during the year, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the 6,223 seafarers abandoned across 410 ships worldwide. The figure marks a 25% increase over 2024, when 899 Indian seafarers were abandoned, and a sharp rise from 401 cases in 2023. Filipinos formed the second-largest affected group, with 539 abandonments reported in 2025.
India is the third-largest supplier of seafarers globally, after the Philippines and China, underscoring the scale of the crisis affecting its maritime workforce.
Globally, seafarer abandonment rose by 32%, while the number of abandoned vessels increased by 31% compared to 2024, making 2025 the worst year on record for the practice. ITF data shows that abandoned seafarers were owed $25.8 million in unpaid wages and entitlements, of which the federation has so far recovered $16.5 million.
The highest number of ship abandonments occurred in Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting persistent enforcement gaps in key maritime regions.
Seafarer abandonment is defined as a shipowner’s failure to repatriate crew, provide maintenance and support, or pay wages for a minimum of two months, often accompanied by complete severance of communication with the crew.
“It’s nothing short of a disgrace that, yet again, we are seeing record numbers of seafarers abandoned by unscrupulous ship owners,” said David Heindel, Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section.
The human toll behind the statistics remains severe. An Indian seafarer abandoned since June aboard the vessel Eleen Armonia off the coast of Nigeria, along with three other Indian crew members, described the emotional strain: “I can’t sleep from stress, and if this continues I don’t know how it will affect my health. I joined this vessel quickly because the assignment meant I could spend Christmas and New Year with my new daughter and family. I have now missed these and an important family event.”
In response to growing concerns, India’s Directorate General of Shipping blacklisted 86 vessels in September linked to repeated cases of Indian seafarer abuse.
The ITF noted that 337 ship abandonments in 2025 involved vessels sailing under flags of convenience, often used by shadow fleets to obscure ownership. Such flags are frequently associated with substandard safety practices, weak labour protections, and heightened risks of exploitation.
The continued rise in abandonment cases has renewed calls from unions and maritime stakeholders for stronger international enforcement, transparency in ship ownership, and tougher action against flag states and operators that fail to uphold seafarers’ basic rights.
