Abandonment

MLC 2006 Standard A2.5.2 — introduced by the 2014 amendments and in force since 18 January 2017 — defines abandonment as the situation where a shipowner fails to pay wages for at least two months, fails to cover the costs of repatriation, or severs ties with the seafarer leaving them without the support needed in a foreign country. Every flag state that has ratified MLC must now require shipowners to maintain financial security (typically provided by a P&I club) specifically covering unpaid wages up to four months and the full cost of repatriation. The insurer's name and policy number must be posted on board on the DMLC Part II document. Cases that are entered on the IMO/ILO Joint Database of Abandoned Seafarers become public and attract regulatory pressure from both the flag state and port states, significantly accelerating insurer response. You do not have to wait for two full months before acting — any sign of financial distress (missed allotments, bounced wires, owner uncontactable) warrants immediate contact with the ITF or ISWAN. See /reference/mlc for the full technical treatment of the Convention.

What this usually means

Abandonment happens when a shipowner fails to pay wages for two months, fails to cover repatriation costs, or severs ties with the crew. Under MLC 2006 (2014 amendments, Standards A2.5.2 and A4.2.1), every flag state must require shipowners to maintain financial security for wages and repatriation. The insurer is named on the Certificate MLC-DMLC Part II posted onboard.

Step-by-step

Locate the MLC-DMLC Part II posted in the messroom and photograph the certificate number + issuing insurer.
Document the last wage paid, the ship's current port, and the Master's last known orders.
Call ISWAN SeafarerHelp or the nearest ITF inspector — both operate 24/7.
Have the inspector open a case with the IMO/ILO database (entries are public and accelerate insurer response).
Do not sign off against a release of claims until the insurer has paid wages and booked your repatriation.

Evidence to save

Photograph of the DMLC Part II posted in the messroom — insurer name, policy number, and contact details.
Wage accounts and bank statements showing the exact date the last payment was received and the amounts outstanding.
Written (or screenshot) record of the last contact with the master, DPA, or shipowner, and the date contact was lost.
Copies of allotment records — missed allotments are early-warning abandonment indicators.
The ship's current port, anchorage, or last known position, and the amount of bunkers and stores remaining.
ITF or ISWAN case reference number once you have opened a case.
Crew list with all nationalities and contract end dates — useful for the IMO/ILO database entry.

What NOT to sign

Any release of claims or 'final receipt' before the financial-security insurer has paid all outstanding wages in full and booked your repatriation ticket.
A 'mutual agreement to terminate' if wages are still owed — this can be used by the owner to avoid the abandonment definition.
A new contract with the same shipowner at a reduced wage while original wages remain unpaid.
A document describing your departure as 'voluntary sign-off' when you were left without pay or means of repatriation.

Escalation path

Day 1 of missed wages: photograph the DMLC Part II and note the insurer. Contact the master in writing requesting a payment timeline.
If no resolution within 7 days: contact ISWAN SeafarerHelp (+44 800 012 1004, 24/7) and the ITF inspector at the nearest port with coverage.
Ask the ITF inspector to open a case with the IMO/ILO Joint Database — public entries accelerate insurer response.
Contact the financial-security insurer directly with: vessel IMO, your name and rank, dates of unpaid wages, and evidence of abandonment.
File a complaint with the flag state's maritime administration via the contact on the DMLC Part II — the flag state can compel the insurer to act.
If the vessel is in port: notify PSC. The vessel can be detained and repatriation ordered under the Paris MoU or Tokyo MoU MLC inspection regime.

Legal basis

MLC 2006, Regulation 2.5 (repatriation) and 4.2 (shipowners' liability). Flag-state enforcement is the default route; port-state control can intervene under MOU frameworks.

Related terms

Organisations that can help

ISWAN SeafarerHelp
Global · 24/7
📞 +44 800 012 1004
ITF Inspectorate — London (Global Coordinating)
Global · Mon-Fri 9-17 GMT, after-hours via inspector network
📞 +44 20 7403 2733
ITF Seafarers
Global · 24/7 for emergencies
📞 +44 20 7403 2733
Nautilus International — UK 24-hour helpline
Europe · 24/7
📞 +44 20 8989 6677
AMOSUP (Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines)
Asia-Pacific · Mon-Sat 8-17 PHT
📞 +63 2 8527 8491
NUSI (National Union of Seafarers of India)
Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9:30-18 IST
📞 +91 22 6798 3636

Real cases

MV Captain Nagdaliyev (2023-2024) — all 13 repatriated after 9 months; wage recovery unknown.
MV Al Madina (2023-2024) — all 11 repatriated after 11 months; wage recovery limited.
MV Alexandria (2022-2023) — all 9 repatriated after 11 months; no meaningful wage recovery.
MV Blue Mangroves (2022-2023) — all 11 repatriated after 8-9 months; wage recovery limited.
MV Baraka (2022-2023) — all 8 repatriated after 11 months; no wage recovery.
MSC Napoli aftermath (2007) — Not classic abandonment but demonstrated MLC financial-security is only as good as the certificate on board.

Full public abandonment case database →

ITF outcome statistics

Annual cases (2020-24 avg): ~100
% resolved within 4 weeks: ~68%
% requiring flag-state intervention: ~40%

Source: ITF Seafarer Support annual reports.

Flag-state considerations

FoC flags (MHL, LBR, PAN) have well-developed A2.5.2 enforcement thanks to IG P&I Club membership + IRI/LISCR/AMP casualty teams. Lesser-known flags have historically had slower enforcement — verify the DMLC Part II carefully before joining. See /mlc-financial-security for provider directory.