Maritime Leaders Forum

Abandoned

The Growing  Crisis of Seafarer and Ship Abandonment

Monday 21 September 2026

Trinity House

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All Fuellers are invited to attend the  Maritime Leaders Forum at 1730 for 1800 on Monday 21 September at Trinity House. This event is kindly sponsored by J & J Denholm Ltd.

Abandonment of ships and crew is a fast-growing humanitarian challenge for global shipping. What was once an occasional consequence of owner insolvency is increasingly a structural feature, driven by financial distress, weak flag-state oversight, sanctions, and the proliferation of opaque ownership structures.

The joint International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) database, which records reported cases of seafarer abandonment, has documented a sharp rise in recent years. (ILO/IMO Joint Database on Abandonment of Seafarers). Abandonment typically occurs when shipowners fail to pay wages for at least two months, cease providing food, fuel or essential supplies, or simply disappear, leaving crews stranded aboard vessels that may remain under arrest for months or even years. Although amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention require financial security to cover repatriation and unpaid wages, enforcement remains uneven.

According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), 2025 was the worst year on record, with 410 vessels abandoned and 6,223 seafarers affected — an increase of more than 30% compared with 2024. Cases continue to be reported throughout 2026, suggesting that the underlying drivers remain unresolved. (ITF: 'Seafarer Abandonment is in Crisis' | Seafarers International Union)

The interaction between sanctions and ship recycling is a growing concern. Vessels caught in sanctions regimes or associated with the “shadow fleet” may become commercially unemployable while also proving difficult to sell, insure or recycle responsibly. There is a risk that ships destined for lawful recycling will instead be abandoned in port, with crews left trapped aboard.

We hope this event will help take this urgent issue forward in the UK.

We look forward to welcoming industry leaders and future leaders to Trinity House to share their thoughts on this pressing issue.

The event will be at Trinity House, doors open at 1730 for 1800 start.  There is no charge for attending. Please use the complementary tab at registration.

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THE PANEL

• Sarah Kenny (Chair) - CEO BMT Ltd, Elder Brethren of Trinity House
• Jan Engel de Boer - Senior Legal Officer at the Legal Affairs Office of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division of the IMO; In November 2024 Executive Secretary (IMO) of the Joint IMO/ILO Working Group which adopted Guidelines on how to deal with abandonment of seafarers
• Stella Aber - Head of Programmes, The Seafarers' Charity; 2017 – 2025 IMO Security and Project Officer Training
• Siiri Duddington - Partner, Shipping, Hill Dickinson LLP, Partner and deputy head London office heading the firm's sanctions practice
• Nick Taylor - Head of Direct P&I at Miller; P&I experience spans Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East

The Maritime Leaders Forum is an opportunity to share best practice with industry leaders, as we work to energise the UK Maritime Sector. We plan for a wide-ranging discussion. Doors open at 1730, coffee, tea and soft drinks will be available. The panel will start the event at 1800 with a short presentation from each one on the key points as they see them. This is followed by an open session, where the panel are invited to comment on propositions, best practice, and questions from the floor. At the conclusion of the formal session at 1945, we move into a networking reception, finishing at 2100. This has proved a valuable opportunity to continue the discussion, make contacts, and promote collaboration in the industry.

The event will be at Trinity House, doors open at 1730 for 1800 start. There is no charge for attending. Please use the complementary tab at registration.

LOCATION
Trinity House
Trinity Square
London
EC3N 4DH
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TIMINGS
1730 Doors open
1800 Panel led discussion
1945 Networking reception
2100 Carriages

The Maritime Leadership Forum brings industry leaders and future leaders together to share insight, analysis and thought leadership to inspire a conversation on recent and pressing developments in the maritime sector. It is a collaboration between Trinity House, Maritime UK, and Maritime London. Please join us for a challenging discussion. 

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