Seafarers suffer from structural deficiencies

According to a recent report by the International Transport Workers‘ Federation (ITF), the number of seafarers abandoned by unethical shipowners has reached an alarming level, as reported by Seafarers‘ Rights International (SRI). Professor Hilton Staniland, CEO of SRI, points out that this issue can only be resolved by addressing fundamental structural deficiencies in the shipping industry.

Professor Staniland emphasizes that while there are many responsible shipowners striving to adhere to standards, the competitive conditions in the industry are imbalanced. This allows unscrupulous owners to operate both ships and crews under precarious conditions and abandon them in times of trouble. Despite the efforts of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to promote transparency and accountability, many challenges will remain.

In April 2026, the issue will be revisited at the IMO Legal Committee meeting. The central question remains whether the international community is willing to move beyond mere expressions of concern and take concrete actions to close existing loopholes, as reported by SRI.