Abandonment — support for families

Seafarer abandonment — where a shipowner leaves crew stranded at sea or in a foreign port without pay, support, or repatriation — is one of the most serious welfare failures in the industry. For families at home, it is a particularly frightening situation: the seafarer is unreachable or distressed, wages have stopped, and the company is unresponsive. This page covers what the law requires, what families can do from home, how to preserve documentary evidence, and who can help. The seafarer-facing page is at rights — abandonment.

What abandonment means under MLC A2.5.2

MLC 2006 Standard A2.5.2 (added in the 2014 amendments, in force 2017) defines abandonment and requires flag states to ensure financial security is in place to cover it. A seafarer is abandoned when any of the following occur:

The shipowner fails to pay wages for at least two months.
The shipowner fails to cover the cost of repatriation.
The shipowner leaves the seafarer without necessary maintenance and support (food, accommodation, medical care).

The 2014 MLC amendments require all flag states to ensure ships carry financial security (typically a P&I club certificate) specifically covering abandonment — up to four months of outstanding wages and full repatriation costs. This certificate must be posted onboard and can be reviewed by port state control inspectors.

What families can do from home

Families can be effective advocates even from a distance. Steps in order of priority:

1. Contact the ITF. The ITF Inspector at the nearest port to the vessel is the most powerful immediate advocate. The ITF global line (itfseafarers.org) can identify the right inspector. Provide: ship name, IMO number, flag, last known port, and the date wages were last paid.
2. Contact ISWAN SeafarerHelp. +44 20 7323 2737, 24/7, free, multilingual. ISWAN can coordinate with ITF, flag state, and the P&I club simultaneously and support the family through the process.
3. Notify the flag-state maritime authority. The flag state has a legal obligation under MLC to investigate abandonment and ensure the financial security is activated. ISWAN can help identify the correct flag-state authority and draft the notification.
4. Contact the manning agency. If the manning agency is still operating and reachable, they may be able to intervene with the shipowner directly. Some manning agencies will assist; others are part of the problem. Keep records of every interaction.

Preserving wage records on the family side

In an abandonment case, documentation is critical. The family should gather and preserve:

Bank statements showing the history of allotment receipts (print and digital copies).
Any allotment advice slips or remittance confirmations received from the company.
The date the last payment was received and the amount.
Any written communications from the manning agency or operator about delayed or withheld payments.
A copy of the Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA) — see documents families should keep.

This documentation supports wage recovery claims through the ITF, the flag-state financial security, and, if necessary, legal proceedings. See also wages toolkit.

The IMO/ILO Joint Database of Abandoned Seafarers

The IMO and ILO jointly maintain a public database of reported abandonment cases. It is searchable by vessel name and operator, and shows active cases as well as historical cases with their outcomes. The database is useful for:

Checking whether a vessel or operator has a prior abandonment record.
Establishing an official record of a current case (through the flag-state authority).
Tracking the progress of a reported case and its resolution.

IMO/ILO Joint Database of Abandoned Seafarers — searchable at ILO.org

Frequently asked questions

What does abandonment mean in maritime law?
Under MLC 2006 Standard A2.5.2, a seafarer is considered abandoned when the shipowner: (a) fails to cover the cost of the seafarer's repatriation; (b) leaves the seafarer without the necessary maintenance and support; or (c) otherwise unilaterally severs links with the seafarer, including failure to pay contractual wages for a period of at least two months. Abandonment is not just a welfare failure — it is a legal breach of the shipowner's obligations under the MLC and, by extension, the flag state's oversight duty.
Can a family notify the ITF on behalf of an abandoned seafarer?
Yes. The ITF and ISWAN actively welcome reports from families. If the seafarer cannot communicate freely — because they are stranded on a vessel, their communication is being controlled, or they are simply exhausted and unsure what to do — a family member can and should contact the ITF inspector at the nearest port, the ITF global campaign line, and ISWAN SeafarerHelp on their behalf. Provide the ship name, IMO number, current location if known, and any documentation of non-payment you hold.
What is the IMO/ILO Joint Database of Abandoned Seafarers?
The IMO and ILO maintain a publicly searchable database of reported seafarer abandonment cases. It is available at ilo.org and allows families, unions, and lawyers to check whether a vessel or operator has a record of abandonment. Cases are reported by flag-state maritime authorities and updated as cases are resolved. The database is a useful research tool when assessing whether an employer has a history of abandonment, and a formal mechanism for establishing an official record of a current case.
Will the financial security cover my family member's unpaid wages?
Under MLC Standard A2.5.2, all flag states that have ratified the MLC are required to ensure that ships flying their flag carry financial security (typically P&I insurance) to cover repatriation costs and up to four months of outstanding wages in an abandonment case. The financial security certificate should identify the insurer. If the shipowner's P&I club refuses to cover the claim, the ITF and the flag-state maritime authority are the escalation points. Not all flag states enforce MLC equally — the ITF Inspector network has experience navigating each flag.

Primary sources

Under MLC 2006 Standard A2.5.2, a seafarer is considered abandoned when the shipowner: (a) fails to cover the cost of the seafarer's repatriation; (b) leaves the seafarer without the necessary maintenance and support; or (c) otherwise unilaterally severs links with the seafarer, including failure to pay contractual wages for a period of at least two months. Abandonment is not just a welfare failure — it is a legal breach of the shipowner's obligations under the MLC and, by extension, the flag state's oversight duty.

Can a family notify the ITF on behalf of an abandoned seafarer?

Yes. The ITF and ISWAN actively welcome reports from families. If the seafarer cannot communicate freely — because they are stranded on a vessel, their communication is being controlled, or they are simply exhausted and unsure what to do — a family member can and should contact the ITF inspector at the nearest port, the ITF global campaign line, and ISWAN SeafarerHelp on their behalf. Provide the ship name, IMO number, current location if known, and any documentation of non-payment you hold.

What is the IMO/ILO Joint Database of Abandoned Seafarers?

The IMO and ILO maintain a publicly searchable database of reported seafarer abandonment cases. It is available at ilo.org and allows families, unions, and lawyers to check whether a vessel or operator has a record of abandonment. Cases are reported by flag-state maritime authorities and updated as cases are resolved. The database is a useful research tool when assessing whether an employer has a history of abandonment, and a formal mechanism for establishing an official record of a current case.

Will the financial security cover my family member's unpaid wages?

Under MLC Standard A2.5.2, all flag states that have ratified the MLC are required to ensure that ships flying their flag carry financial security (typically P&I insurance) to cover repatriation costs and up to four months of outstanding wages in an abandonment case. The financial security certificate should identify the insurer. If the shipowner's P&I club refuses to cover the claim, the ITF and the flag-state maritime authority are the escalation points. Not all flag states enforce MLC equally — the ITF Inspector network has experience navigating each flag.