Stella Maris calls for urgent action on growing crisis of seafarer abandonment

First person to visit abandoned crew: Margaret Masibo, Stella Maris chaplain in Mombasa, Kenya

Source: Stella Maris

Catholic charity and global maritime network Stella Maris is calling for urgent action in response to record levels of ship abandonment, which left thousands of seafarers stranded without pay, provisions, or a way home in 2024.

This month, joint data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) data confirms a staggering 310 ships were reported abandoned last year, a significant increase from 142 in 2023.

Tim Hill MBE, Chief Executive of Stella Maris, said: "These figures are not just statistics; they represent lives upended and families pushed into financial hardship. Abandoned seafarers often endure harrowing conditions - trapped on vessels without adequate provisions or wages and unsure when they'll be able to return home to their loved ones. The physical and mental toll is devastating."

Seafarers can spend months aboard vessels as they await resolution of their cases, without any income to send home. In one case supported by Stella Maris, a group of abandoned seafarers in Kenya faced over a year on their ship with little food and no wages.

Margaret Masibo, the Stella Maris chaplain in Mombasa, Kenya, recalls: "Men were crying, others were shouting, some had withdrawn into silence. For several days, they had no food or fresh water. They were starving to death. Since the ship had been abandoned, not a single person had stepped on board to help - until I did. The men had no money and couldn't disembark because they didn't have papers to be in Kenya. It was a terrible, heart-breaking sight to see people abandoned so carelessly."

Seafarers are often the primary breadwinners for their families, and their absence can plunge their loved ones into financial distress.

"The ripple effects of abandonment stretch far beyond the ship. Whole communities suffer when seafarers are left stranded and unpaid," Hill added.

Stella Maris provides direct support to seafarers, including food parcels, legal assistance, and pastoral care. However, the charity warns that more needs to be done to prevent this crisis from escalating.

"The world relies on seafarers to keep trade moving, yet they remain among the most vulnerable workers. We must stand together to enforce international laws, hold negligent companies accountable, and provide immediate assistance to abandoned crew to ensure that seafarers' rights are respected and their dignity upheld," Hill said.

In a recent press briefing, IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez, underscored IMO's commitment to addressing the problem, but stressed the need for better compliance with existing regulations.

"There is a responsibility for member states and ship owners to treat their people better. The framework is in place, but we need everyone to do their part," he said.

Stella Maris, (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea), is a registered UK charity. It relies on voluntary donations to continue its work. 90% of world trade is transported by ship. However, the life of a seafarer can be dangerous and lonely. Seafarers may spend up to a year at a time away from home, separated from their families and loved ones, often working in harsh conditions. Stella Maris' chaplains and ship visitors provide seafarers and fishers with pastoral and practical support, information and a listening ear.

For more information visit: www.stellamaris.org.uk

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