MANILA — The implementation of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (Republic Act 12021) faces a major hurdle as the global rise of “shadow fleet” vessels accelerates cases of seafarer abandonment, a maritime union leader warned.
Speaking during the Philippine Maritime Convention (Philmarcon) at the Manila Hotel, lawyer Jesus Sale, representing the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup), stressed that while RA 12021 incorporates the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention into law, real-world enforcement remains the ultimate test.
Data from the joint ILO and International Maritime Organization (IMO) database shows that 131 vessels involving more than 1,160 Filipino crew members were officially reported as abandoned between 2004 and August 2026. Figures monitored by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reflect an even sharper trend: in 2025 alone, 410 abandoned ships were reported worldwide, directly affecting 539 Filipino mariners out of more than 6,000 seafarers overall.
Sale pointed out that a primary driver behind the recent spike in abandonments is the expansion of sanctioned, dark-fleet vessels operating globally.
“When discovered by authorities, sanctioned ships with sketchy ownership arrangements, inadequate to zero insurance coverage, barely seaworthy and flying false or convenient flags, are easily abandoned,” Sale said. “Their operators and charterers quickly disappear, leaving the crew unpaid, with scant provisions and unable to go home.”
Under RA 12021, seafarer abandonment is classified as a “critical incident,” triggering mandatory notifications to families, guaranteed access to communication, and immediate government-backed repatriation through funds managed by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) if shipowners fail to meet their obligations.
However, Amosup argued that protective measures on paper are insufficient without stricter pre-deployment verification and systemic reforms. Sale outlined four key recommendations to address governance gaps, beginning with strict vessel scrutiny that requires government agencies to verify real, valid financial security and ship ownership on a per-vessel basis before deploying any crew, particularly targeting “grey ships” that attempt to evade sanctions.
To further address these gaps, Amosup emphasized the need for establishing formal channels for Philippine authorities to access international lists of sanctioned vessels and share that intelligence with labor unions and employers. Furthermore, the union called for reforming the Flags of Convenience (FOC) system by enforcing a clear, mandatory “genuine link” requirement between shipowners and flag states under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
Finally, Sale urged international regulatory bodies to upgrade the 2022 IMO/ILO guidelines on seafarer abandonment from voluntary recommendations into binding, mandatory requirements under the MLC.
