2024年，被遗弃在海上的海员人数飙升至历史最高水平，全球报告了310起案件。根据国际海事组织（IMO）的数据，与2023年创纪录的142起相比，这一数字增长了118%。

专家们将这种急剧上升与影子船队的规模不断扩大联系起来，影子船队包括运载受制裁石油的船只，在最低限度的监督下运作。

这种情况在本世纪20年代严重恶化。受新型冠状病毒感染症（COVID-19）疫情的影响，随着在所谓“假国旗”下作业的船只增多，遗弃案件也在增加。

2024年的总数比十年前报告的案件数高出近2000%。

国际海事组织在与国际劳工组织（ILO）的一份联合报告中称，遗弃案件的增加“令人震惊，而且非常过分”，超过了以往的记录。

报告强调，迫切需要采取更强有力的措施来保护海员，并解决与危机相关的系统性问题。

当船东未能履行其职责，如支付工资、支付遣返费用或提供食物和医疗等基本必需品时，就会发生海员遗弃。

在这种情况下，海员被困在船上，往往无法回家。

海员幸福指数的创始人史蒂文·琼斯（Steven Jones）表示，遗弃问题日益严重，使航运业取得的成就黯然失色。

他说，假旗、黑暗船队和监管漏洞为剥削创造了温床，他呼吁进行全面的制度改革，以保护海员，并追究***船东的责任。

国际运输工人联合会（ITF）监察协调员史蒂夫·特鲁瓦戴尔（Steve Trowsdale）此前曾批评该行业将海员视为“一次性商品”。

2022年底，国际海事组织和国际劳工组织制定了解决海员遗弃问题的指导方针。这些指导方针概述了当船东未能履行其义务时应采取的步骤。

措施包括确保遣返、支付拖欠工资以及提供医疗等必需品。

指南还建议各国与福利组织、航运代理机构和其他利益相关者合作制定标准作业程序（sop）。

这些标准操作程序旨在确定支持被遗弃海员的所有各方的作用和责任。尽管有这些指导方针，但过去两年案件的增加表明，这些问题是多么根深蒂固。

专家警告说，该行业需要更严格地执行法规，并在政府、航运机构和福利委员会之间进行更好的协调。

国际海事组织和国际劳工组织呼吁迅速采取行动解决这一问题，并补充说，如果不这样做，将继续伤害海员，损害航运业的声誉。

▲Image for representation purposes only

英文原文

The number of seafarers abandoned at sea surged to an all-time high in 2024, with 310 cases reported globally.  This marks a 118% increase compared to 2023’s record of 142 cases, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).



Experts have linked this sharp rise to the increasing size of the shadow fleet, which includes vessels carrying sanctioned oil and operating under minimal oversight.



The situation has worsened greatly in the 2020s.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, abandonment cases have grown in tandem with the rise of ships operating under so-called “fake flags.”



The 2024 total is nearly 2000% higher than the number of cases reported a decade ago.



The IMO, in a joint report with the International Labour Organization (ILO), described the rise in abandonment cases as “alarming and very excessively” surpassing previous records.



The report highlighted the urgent need for stronger measures to protect seafarers and address the systematic issues associated with the crisis.



Seafarer abandonment happens when a shipowner fails to fulfil their responsibilities, like paying wages, covering repatriation costs, or providing basic necessities like food and medical care.



In such cases, seafarers are left stranded on vessels, often with no means of returning home.



Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, said the growing issue of abandonment overshadows the maritime industry’s achievements.



He said that fake flags, dark fleets, and regulatory loopholes have created a breeding ground for exploitation, calling for a complete system overhaul to protect seafarers and hold abusive shipowners accountable.

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Steve Trowsdale, inspectorate coordinator at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has previously criticised the industry for treating seafarers as “throw-away commodities.”



In late 2022, the IMO and ILO developed guidelines to tackle seafarer abandonment.  These guidelines outline steps that should be taken when a shipowner fails to meet their obligations.



Measures include ensuring repatriation, paying outstanding wages, and providing essentials like medical care.



The guidelines also recommend that countries create standard operating procedures (SOPs) in cooperation with welfare organizations, shipping agencies, and other stakeholders.



These SOPs aim to define the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in supporting abandoned seafarers.  Despite these guidelines, the rise in cases over the last two years shows how deeply rooted the problems are.



Experts warn that the industry needs stricter enforcement of regulations and better coordination among governments, shipping agencies, and welfare boards.



The IMO and ILO have called for swift action to address the issue, adding that failing to do so will continue to harm seafarers and tarnish the reputation of the shipping industry.

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