For the second year in a row, Indian seafarers are the most abandoned in the world, according to data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Of all seafarers abandoned in the world, around one-fourth are Indians, according to ITF figures carried by The Times of India.
The abandonment of seafarers refers to a situation where an owner of a ship fails to cover the cost of seafarers’ repatriation to their home countries, leaves seafarer without maintenance and support, or unilaterally severs ties with the seafarer which includes not paying contractual wages and salaries for a period of at least two months, according to the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006.
401 of 1,672 abandoned seafarers are Indians: ITF
So far, a total of 1,672 seafarers and 116 vessels have been abandoned this year, according to ITF figures carried by ToI.
Of the 1,672 seafarers abandoned so far this year, 401 are Indians, according to ITF. This is the highest for any nationality.
The year 2024 is expected to surpass 2023 in terms of the number of seafarers abandoned. Last year, a total of 129 vessels and 1,983 seafarers were abandoned, as per the ITF. This year, near-similar numbers have been reported within just five months.
The London-based ITF particularly flagged the case of two vessels abandoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both the ships are owned by the UAE-owned AIM Global Shipping & Fuel Supply. The 16 Indian seafarers in the two vessels have been without any salary for months, as per the report.
The 16 seafarers also do not have any air-conditioning are running low on supplies. Six of them are stranded in Sharjah and are owed $40,000 in unpaid dues and 10 others are owed $35,000, as per the report.
‘Indian agents are among the worst’
Speaking about the plight of Indian seafarers, ITF official Steve Trowsdale said that Indian agents supplying seafarers to shipping companies are among the worst in the world.
The ITF is currently reported to be engaged in talks with the two ships mentioned above which are stranded in the UAE.
“Indian crewing agents are among the worst for sending seafarers just to be abandoned,” said ITF Inspectorate Coordinator Trowsdale to ToI.
Louis Gomes, Vice President of National Union of Seafarers of India, separately told the paper that Indians taking up such jobs “often have no awareness and don’t even know to which ship they are going”.
“Some pay just to get on board a ship to get a period of service to get certificates,” said Gomes.
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Indian seafarers remain the most abandoned in world, shows international union’s data
