Page 61 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025

by Stephen Cotton,
General Secretary
of the International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF)
Seafarer abandonment with international law, wherein ships fly
Abandonment remains one of the most the flags of countries with genuine links
concerning trends in global shipping. to their operations and responsibilities.
Right now, hundreds of seafarers are While the FOC system is in place, we
stranded on vessels worldwide, left must work to improve seafarers’ quality
without pay, sufficient supplies of food of life with reasonable remuneration stand-
and drink, or a way home. Abandonment ards and improved working conditions.
strips away a worker’s dignity, leaving
them and their loved ones in limbo as Criminalisation: Seafarers as scapegoats
legal battles drag on, especially when The last few years have seen an
owners shirk their responsibilities. increase in the criminalisation and
Despite the Maritime Labour Con- unfair treatment of seafarers. Acci-
vention’s provisions, the problem is dents, pollution incidents, and security
growing. In 2024, more abandonment crises have a direct impact on seafar-
cases were reported than ever before, ers. There are instances of seafarers
and in 2025, the number of cases is set being imprisoned for years in foreign
to increase. This is not a marginal issue – jurisdictions without due process. The
it is a humanitarian crisis made worse tragic irony is that seafarers are fre-
by the number of security threats affect- quently the ones who act heroically, pre-
ing the industry. venting disaster or saving lives – yet they
Governments, as well as industry and are rewarded with suspicion and blame.
social partners, must work together to Criminalisation not only destroys lives
strengthen the legal framework to ensure but also deters talented young people
that bad employers are held accounta- from entering the profession. We need
ble and abandoned seafarers are swiftly stronger international protections that
repatriated and compensated. guarantee that seafarers receive fair
treatment and legal support, no matter
Flags of convenience and exploitation where they are in the world.
Behind abandonment and other abuses
lies a deeper problem that the ITF has Escalating risks: Seafarers on the front-
campaigned against for more than 75 line
years: the flags of convenience (FOC) Maritime work has always involved risk,
system. but the dangers faced by today’s crews
For decades, this system has under- are intensifying. The recent spate of
mined international law by enabling drone and missile attacks in the Red
the registration of vessels in countries Sea has put seafarers directly in harm’s
with little or no connection to their oper- way, effectively turning them into collat-
ations. These open registries can allow eral damage in geopolitical conflicts not
unscrupulous owners to avoid taxes, of their making. These are not abstract
undercut labour standards, and evade threats: crews have been held hostage
responsibility. Today, more than 70% (11 seafarers from the “Eternity C” are
of the world’s merchant fleet sails under currently being held by the Houthis in
FOC registers. Although they clearly con- Sana’a, Yemen), injured or even killed.
travene the UN Convention on the Law Meanwhile, piracy, unsafe working con-
of the Sea (UNCLOS) and can pose dan- ditions, and exposure to climate-related
gers to the interests of seafarers, they hazards remain persistent dangers. We
have nonetheless become embedded must bring seafarers to the forefront of
in the maritime industry. security planning to ensure their safety.
When a ship is abandoned or a crew We cannot allow crews to become
member is criminalised, the murky chain pawns in global disputes. Shipowners,
of responsibility created by FOCs makes states, and international bodies must
justice challenging to achieve. We must prioritise crew safety, provide adequate
be clear: flags of convenience under- training and protection, and involve
mine safety, transparency, and fairness. seafarers in the process of developing
The international community should be strategies to address emerging risks.
working towards the abolition of this This raises the critical question: What
system and towards a model that aligns are the responsibilities of flag states in
September 2025 59