Episode #8
Seafarer Abandonment: Unpaid Wages, Repatriation & Human Cost
Send us Fan Mail Seafarer abandonment is not simply a contractual dispute. It can mean months without wages, expired contracts, repatriation refused, deteriorating conditions onboard, and families thousands of miles away left without the income they depend upon. In this episode of Sea Views, hosts Julia Gosling and Adam Parnell are joined by Mohamed Arrachedi, ITF FOC Network Coordinator for the Arab World and Iran at the International Transport Workers’ Federation, for an uncompromising look at one of maritime’s most persistent and disturbing problems. Mohamed works directly with seafarers facing unpaid wages, Maritime Labour Convention complaints, failed repatriation, unsafe living conditions and abandonment across a region stretching from North Africa through the Middle East and Iran. This conversation goes beyond the statistics to explain what abandonment actually means under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), why a crew does not need to be physically deserted for abandonment to have occurred, and how quickly an unpaid wage or repatriation problem can become something far more serious. Mohamed also shares the reality behind the cases reaching the ITF, including seafarers waiting months for wages, crews afraid to speak out, ships operating without adequate food, fuel or basic services, and the enormous consequences for families ashore. The central problem is not necessarily a lack of regulation. It is what happens when existing protections are not enforced. Resources Seafarer Abandonment Series – Smart Seafaring. A Safe Return: https://youtu.be/fbg_frnyDy0?si=Rsq-OEzwnHeJNlBL ITF Seafarers’ Bulletin 2026: ITF-SB26_Layout_RGB-web-1.pdf ITF Seafarers: Home | ITF Seafarers For seafarers who believe they may have been abandoned, the message throughout this conversation is important: do not wait until the situation becomes desperate before asking for help. Abandonment affects far more than the individual seafarer. Unpaid wages, delayed repatriation and months trapped in uncertainty can affect entire families whose livelihoods depend on the person working at sea. The regulations exist. The challenge is making sure they are enforced. NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube . CHIRP Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme. Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here The Seafarers' Charity Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years. by Ahoy Communications Ltd
