"Sailor's Ordeal Exposes Rising Shipowner Abandonment"

Abdul Nasser Saleh's near-decade ordeal on an abandoned cargo ship highlights a growing global issue of shipowner abandonment, exacerbated by rising costs and logistical challenges. The United Nations reports a record number of such cases, with over 2,000 seafarers abandoned last year. Despite international regulations, many flag states fail to assist stranded crews, leaving sailors without pay or basic supplies for months or years. Saleh's case, resolved only after media intervention, underscores the systemic failures and human toll of this maritime crisis.