The Seafarers’ Charity Launches Film Series to Help Seafarers Avoid Abandonment

The animated series – ‘Smart Seafaring. A Safe Return’ – aims to help seafarers understand warning signs of unreliable ships, give them skills to cope with abandonment if it occurs, and show how their loved ones can support them from home. Seafarer abandonment hit record levels in 2025, according to data compiled by the International Transport Workers’ Federation, with 6,223 seafarers abandoned across 410 ships.   This was the fourth year in a row that the total number of seafarers abandoned has broken records: the numbers represent a 32% increase in seafarer abandonment compared to 2024.

The release of The Seafarers’ Charity’s first film, focused on pre-departure due diligence, coincides with the United Nations ‘Day of the Seafarer’. Observed since 2011, Day of the Seafarer highlights the vital contributions of the world’s seafarers to everyday life. 2026’s theme is ‘Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks.’

The Maritime Labour Convention defines abandonment as a shipowner no longer fulfilling obligations to seafarers, including the non-payment of wages for at least two months, failure to provide food, water, fuel, and medical care, or refusal to cover repatriation costs.   In practical terms, this leaves crew marooned, often in foreign ports or on vessels in poor condition. In some cases, shipowners abandon ships and crews so that they can leverage unpaid labour to secure credit.

Deborah Layde, Chief Executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, said: “Seafarers go to sea to provide for their families and to keep global trade moving. It is criminal that thousands of these key workers are abandoned by unscrupulous owners and operators.   “Abandonment can lead to significantly worse physical and mental health among crew, while not being able to send money back home means their families may fall behind on bills. Seafarers deserve respect and care, not callous treatment.

“On Day of the Seafarer we urge everyone in the maritime community to engage with our films and equip themselves to deal with abandonment, however it might affect them.”

The remaining films in the three-part series will be released over the coming months, along with downloadable guides for seafarers and their families.   The charity will also translate the videos into multiple languages to meet the needs of an international seafaring audience.