Abandonment of ships globally 2017-2020
In 2020, the number of abandoned ships grew by 80 percent compared with the previous year, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 70 ships and more than 1,000 seafarers were abandoned in 2020, despite the efforts of international organizations, NGOs, and mariners’ unions to create stronger instruments to protect seafarers’ rights and hold ship owners accountable.
The UAE is an especially popular destination to abandon ships, possibly because the country and its neighbors have not signed on the Maritime Labour Convention that protects seafarers' rights.
The UAE is an especially popular destination to abandon ships, possibly because the country and its neighbors have not signed on the Maritime Labour Convention that protects seafarers' rights.
