Urgent Call to End Seafarer Abandonment Crisis

Stella Maris, the world’s largest ship visiting charity and the official maritime charity of the Catholic Church, has issued an urgent call to action to combat the rising incidents of seafarer abandonment worldwide.

Recent years have seen a disturbing surge in the number of seafarers left stranded by shipowners without wages, aid, or a means to return home. These cases have escalated to such an extent that it is now being considered a global humanitarian crisis.

Seafarers, often left in dire straits, are experiencing severe mental health issues arising from their predicament. “Ship abandonment has reached alarming levels, leaving many seafarers stranded without support, wages, or a way home. They deserve respect, dignity, and the assurance that they will never be forgotten,” said Stella Maris CEO Tim Hill.

Hill called for unity in addressing this crisis and urged the enforcement of international laws, holding negligent companies accountable, and immediate assistance to the abandoned crew.

Data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reveals a dramatic increase in abandonment cases over the last decade. From a mere dozen cases a year to 143 in 2023 and already over 100 reported in 2024. Shipowners often neglect to provide basic necessities like food, accommodation, and medical care.

Deacon Joseph O’Donnell, Stella Maris Senior Area Port Chaplain for Scotland and Northern Ireland, underscored the role of businesses and organizations that profit from the maritime industry in curbing abandonment.

“We ask those companies and organizations which benefit from the maritime industry, such as major retailers, to join us to put a stop to abandonment,” he said.

Stella Maris has been providing support to abandoned seafarers across the globe, including in Kenya and Taiwan. Recently, they assisted an Indian crew abandoned in Troon, south-west Scotland, who had not received their wages for several months. The charity provided groceries, clothing, and free mobile phone SIM cards for communication with their families back home. Following the intervention of Stella Maris, the crew was ultimately paid and repatriated.

The charity’s chaplain in Mombasa, Kenya, Margaret Masibo, shared a heart-wrenching account of supporting crew members on an abandoned fishing vessel for over a year. According to Masibo, the men were on the brink of starvation and had not received any help until she stepped on board.

“Awareness of these issues needs to be raised to higher government levels. It is a truly global issue,” said Deacon O’Donnell.

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