The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) in India has announced plans to impose sanctions on 86 vessels. The agency stated these vessels have been involved in recurring crew abuse, poor working conditions, detention by port authorities, or operating without valid documentation. This move comes amid warnings from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) that crew abandonment incidents have reached historic highs, prompting calls within the shipping industry for stronger countermeasures.
The announcement highlighted that DGS has received numerous complaints and reports of Indian seafarers being abandoned, detained, or arrested on board certain vessels. DGS noted that most vessels operate without the minimum mandatory documentation, including valid P&I insurance, and that vessel recruitment and placement agencies have “extremely poor compliance” – some even placing crew members on board without proper documentation.
Additionally, Indian authorities disclosed that they had “repeatedly contacted the relevant flag states or port states regarding these matters but received no response. Under the Maritime Labour Convention, states bear a duty to respond to incidents of abandonment of crew members by shipowners/operators on vessels registered in their country.”
Cases cited by DGS include non-payment of wages, refusal to arrange repatriation, and provision of inhumane and unsafe working conditions. DGS also reported that these vessels have been detained multiple times by port authorities, with some vessels implicated in fraud and deception cases.
Based on “the severity of incidents, recurrence frequency, and enforcement difficulty,” the DGS confirmed that 86 vessels would be blacklisted by 2025. The agency reported that it had issued “notices of reasons” to multiple crew agencies involved with the implicated vessels, requiring the agencies to provide explanations regarding the relevant issues.
The vessels involved in the case vary in type and flag, encompassing diverse vessel classes such as general cargo vessels, tankers, and ro-ro ferries. Among them, the product tanker Eagle S stands out as particularly noteworthy—this vessel is the central subject of the Finnish case, accused of intentionally dragging its anchor and damaging submarine cables. Currently, three crew members, including one Indian national, are standing trial in Finland.
The DGS has requested that recruitment and placement agencies immediately cease recruiting or hiring Indian seafarers for the aforementioned vessels. It has also requested that agencies expedite the disembarkation of Indian seafarers at the nearest port and ensure their safe repatriation to India with their wages, medical care, and benefits.
All agencies must submit detailed reports within 14 days outlining the status of crew members employed aboard vessels, including progress on crew repatriation and wage payments. Agencies failing to complete the aforementioned tasks as required will face penalties including license suspension or revocation.
The ITF had previously called for new action and warned in August that abandonment of seafarers in 2025 was showing an “alarming surge.” The organization’s report indicates that 2,648 abandonment incidents across 259 vessels have been documented so far in 2025. This compares to a total of 3,133 abandonment incidents throughout all of 2024, representing an 87% increase over 2023.