Flags of Convenience

Growing Fleet of Abandoned Ships Leaves Sailors Stranded at Sea

A surge in ship abandonments has left over 3,000 seafarers stranded without pay in 2024, double the number from three years prior. Shipowners, often operating smaller vessels on less profitable routes, cite rising costs and dwindling business as reasons for abandoning crews, sometimes leaving them for months without food, water, or electricity. Many abandoned ships are registered in countries with weak enforcement of maritime labor laws, hindering efforts to hold owners accountable. This crisis highlights a critical gap in protecting seafarers’ rights, exacerbated by the use of shell companies and flags of convenience.

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John Q. Hosedrinker Jan 30, 2025