"Sailor's Ordeal Exposes Rising Shipowner Abandonment"

Abdul Nasser Saleh's near-decade ordeal on an abandoned cargo ship in the Red Sea highlights a growing global issue of shipowner abandonment. Over 2,000 seafarers on 150 ships were left stranded last year, the highest number since the UN began tracking such cases. Rising costs and logistical challenges have exacerbated the problem, with many shipowners abandoning crews without pay or basic supplies. Despite international regulations, enforcement is weak, leaving many sailors in dire situations. Saleh's case, resolved after significant delays, underscores the systemic failures in maritime oversight.