Latest posts
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Flag-Hopping at Record Highs: Is Maritime Safety at Risk?
Flag-hopping is the practice whereby a ship owner or an operator frequently and strategically changes their vessel’s flag state (or registry) to circumvent legal, regulatory, or economic obligations. According to the latest data from maritime analytics company Windward, flag-hopping is now a standard operating procedure for a parallel shipping network designed to circumvent international sanctions.
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2024 Marks Worst Year Ever for Seafarer Abandonment, ITF Reports
The abandonment of seafarers has reached unprecedented levels, with new data from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) showing an 87% surge in cases in 2024 compared to the previous year. A staggering 3,133 seafarers were abandoned last year, which is nearly double the 1,676 recorded in 2023. The number of abandoned vessels also skyrocketed by 136%, from 132 in 2023 to 312 in 2024.
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Rise in Crew Abandonment Cases
The global shipping industry continues to grapple with the escalating crisis of crew abandonment, with 54 ships and their crews deserted so far in 2025 thereby putting this year on track to become the second-worst on record. Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that abandonment cases have soared in recent years, worsened by
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Seafarers Secure Landmark Reforms to Global Maritime Labour Agreement
In a historic move, shipowners, governments, and labor unions have reached a consensus on major updates to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), the cornerstone international agreement safeguarding seafarers’ working and living conditions. These groundbreaking amendments come as the modern MLC approaches its 20th anniversary, having consolidated 37 previous conventions when adopted in 2006. The revisions address