Abandonment of Ships and Crews Increases Post-Pandemic: ITF
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New York, Dec 7 (NationPress) As of mid-November, a staggering 282 ships with over 4,000 seafarers on board have been deserted by their owners this year, as reported by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), a prominent labour union.
This number marks a significant increase from 132 vessels reported in 2023.
The rise in these figures can be attributed to the disruptions in supply chains caused by the pandemic, followed by the Western sanctions against Russian interests in 2022, which led to a spike in unlawful maritime activities. Prior to 2020, an average of 40 ships per year were left abandoned by their owners.
The obscure ownership structures of these vessels complicate enforcement efforts, limiting authorities to merely impounding the ships.
Guy Platten, the secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents shipowners, stated, 'If it’s a shadow vessel, you can’t hold the owners accountable because they are nowhere to be seen.'
