Business

Abandoned oil tankers pose hidden threats

An increasing quantity of tankers and commercial ships are being abandoned by their respective owners.

A significant increase in the abandonment of commercial vessels, including oil tankers, by their owners has been observed globally over the past 12 months. The reasons behind this surge and its effects on the seafarers involved are being examined.

The oil tanker Safer, which was abandoned off the coast of Yemen — The number of abandoned oil tankers and other commercial ships has shot up

In a recent conversation, a senior deck officer, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his experiences from an abandoned oil tanker situated outside China's territorial waters.

According to the officer, a Russian national, the crew faced severe shortages of essential provisions, including meat, grain, and fish, which compromised their well-being and working conditions.

The officer described the dire situation, stating that the crew's hunger and frustration led to a daily struggle for survival, with morale at an all-time low.

The vessel in question, which remains unnamed to protect the officer's identity, is carrying approximately 750,000 barrels of Russian crude oil, valued at around $50 million (£37 million), and had begun its journey from Russia's Far East to China in early November.

In December, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), a global trade union organisation, reported that a vessel had been abandoned, citing the crew's claim of unpaid wages for several months.

The ship currently remains in international waters, under close scrutiny, with China reportedly hesitant to grant it port access.

The ITF has since stepped in to facilitate payment to the crew, including Ivan, up to December, and has also arranged for the delivery of essential supplies, such as food and drinking water, to the vessel.

Although some crew members have been returned home, the majority, including Ivan, continue to be on board the ship.

According to ITF data, the number of abandoned ships worldwide has increased significantly, from 20 in 2016 to 410 in 2025, with 6,223 merchant seafarers affected, representing a nearly one-third rise from the previous year's figures.

A group of people stand in the water as they crowd around an abandoned ship — Sometimes ships are abandoned in port, while others are left out at sea

In recent years, global turmoil has been cited as a key factor contributing to increased challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and widespread conflicts worldwide have led to disruptions in supply chains and significant fluctuations in freight costs, resulting in difficulties for some operators to remain operational.

According to the ITF, the rising presence of "shadow fleets" may have played a role in the notable increase observed last year.

These vessels, often older oil tankers like the one Ivan is currently on, typically have unclear ownership structures, are prone to operational hazards, and may not have adequate insurance coverage. They frequently fly flags of convenience, registering in countries with relatively lax regulatory enforcement.

The primary goal of these shadow fleet vessels is to evade detection and facilitate the export of crude oil from countries such as Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, despite being subject to Western sanctions.

Russia's situation serves as an example. Following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has faced sanctions imposing a price cap on its crude oil exports.

Despite facing challenges, Russia has managed to find alternative buyers, including China and India, for its products, although India has recently agreed to halt purchases as part of a new trade agreement with the US.

The practice of flying flags of convenience, or FOCs, has been in use for over a century, allowing shipowners to circumvent domestic laws and regulations. Historically, this tactic was employed by American-owned passenger ships, which would register in countries like Panama during the 1920s to evade US prohibition laws and sell alcohol onboard.

The top flag of convenience registries are currently Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands, which collectively account for 46.5% of the world's merchant fleet by tonnage. However, The Gambia has also emerged as a notable player in this sector in recent years.

A significant increase in registrations was observed in The Gambia, with no oil tankers registered in 2023, but by March of the following year, the country had become the registered owner of 35 such vessels. This shift has resulted in substantial revenue for the host nation in the form of registration fees.

Vessels operating under flags of convenience are disproportionately represented in cases of abandonment, with 337 such ships, or 82% of the total, being reported in 2025. While the exact number of shadow-fleet ships among these is unclear, the precarious condition of these vessels and the opaque ownership structures behind them appear to put both the ships and their crews at greater risk.

According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a seafarer is considered abandoned if their employer neglects to provide repatriation costs, maintain necessary support, or abruptly severs ties, including withholding contractual wages for two months or more.

In an interview with the BBC, ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton stated that abandonment is not a coincidental occurrence, emphasizing that seafarers often lack knowledge of their destination and face numerous challenges upon arrival.

Cotton explained that seafarers typically sign contracts without knowing the specifics of their assignment, only to encounter various difficulties once they reach their destination.

Data from the International Maritime Organisation and the International Labour Organization, both UN agencies, indicates that abandoned merchant navy crews worldwide were owed approximately $25.8 million in unpaid wages last year.

A sailor on an abandoned ship pours fresh water from a tank — Crews of abandoned ships risk running out of fresh water

The ITF reports that it has successfully recovered and returned nearly two-thirds of these unpaid wages, totaling $16.5 million, with the crew of Ivan's ship having accrued around $175,000 in wage arrears at the time the ITF first intervened.

In 2025, Indian nationals were the most affected by maritime abandonment, with 1,125 cases, representing 18% of the total. This was followed by Filipinos, with 539 instances, and Syrians, with 309 cases.

Last September, the Indian government took action to safeguard its seafaring community by blacklisting 86 foreign vessels due to issues related to seafarer abandonment and rights violations. An investigation revealed that many of these vessels had unidentifiable owners or received no response from their flag states.

Mark Dickinson holds the position of general secretary at Nautilus International, a trade union that represents maritime professionals.

The Burmese crew of the cargo ship Kokoo, which was abandoned last year. — Abandoned crews can spend months stuck on their ships

According to Dickinson, flag-of-convenience states are failing to fulfill their responsibilities towards the merchant fleets and crews under their jurisdiction, demonstrating a complete lack of accountability.

Dickinson emphasizes the need for a clear connection between ship owners and the flags they operate under, a requirement already established in international maritime law. However, a unified definition of this link has yet to be agreed upon.

The vessel in question was operating under a fake flag from The Gambia, without registration or recognition from the country. It has now been granted provisional acceptance by another African nation, which has reportedly launched a formal investigation into the matter.

According to ITF inspector Nathan Smith, the tanker's situation is unlikely to be resolved until the oil on board is transferred to another ship in open waters through a ship-to-ship transfer.

Ivan has stated that he will be more diligent in the future when joining a ship's crew, taking extra precautions to ensure he is well-informed.

"In the future, I plan to have thorough discussions about the vessel's condition, payment terms, and provisions," Ivan said, adding that he will also conduct online research to identify any vessels that are banned or under sanctions.

Seafarers like Ivan often find themselves at the mercy of available contracts, and the use of shadow fleets in the Russian oil supply chain poses significant risks to those in maritime service, highlighting the need for increased international cooperation to protect them.

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Artist Alleges AirAsia Used His Work Without Permission

A street artist from Penang has reported that one of his artworks has been replicated and featured on the design of an airplane.

A lawsuit has been filed by a Malaysian-based artist against AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging unauthorized use of the artist's designs on one of the airline's planes.

A low-resolution image of an AirAsia aircraft with artwork children cycling printed on its side. The passenger plane is pictured parked in an airport — Artist Ernest Zacharevic is sueing AirAsia over the use of a livery on one of its jets in 2024

According to the lawsuit, Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist residing in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, was reproduced and displayed on an AirAsia aircraft in late 2024 without his permission.

Zacharevic states that the use of his design was unauthorized, and no licensing agreement or consent was obtained, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.

The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for a statement regarding the allegations.

In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Zacharevic recalled that he first became aware of the alleged copyright infringement in October 2024, when he discovered that an AirAsia plane was featuring a livery resembling his artwork.

With over a decade of experience in Malaysia, Zacharevic is known for his roadside murals in Penang, which have become a staple of the local art scene.

One of Zacharevic's notable works is the 2012 street mural Kids on Bicycle, created for a local festival, which features two children on a bicycle integrated into the mural, located in George Town's heritage district.

The mural has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors taking photos in front of the iconic artwork.

Zacharevic alleges that his work was reproduced on an AirAsia plane without his knowledge or consent, and he personally witnessed the plane in operation at an airport.

Recalling the incident, Zacharevic expressed his discomfort with the situation, which occurred in 2024.

He took to social media to address the issue, posting a photo of the plane and tagging the airline, suggesting that they needed to discuss the use of his artwork.

A photograph of a wall mural, depicting two children in white tops. The images in painted to show the children seated on a real-life bicycle. — Zacharevic painted Kids on Bicycle, a famous wall mural in Penang, in 2012

Since then, Zacharevic has engaged in discussions with the company, but they have been unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.

This is not the first instance of Zacharevic's work being used in connection with AirAsia, as he claims the airline has also used his artwork on a delivery bag for its food services arm.

Court documents reveal that Zacharevic had previously discussed a potential collaboration with AirAsia in 2017, where he would create art for the airline's jets and a mural in one of their offices.

According to the documents, Zacharevic had informed the airline of his work and business rates during these discussions.

The lawsuit asserts that despite being aware of Zacharevic's work and rates, the airline proceeded to reproduce and publicly display one of his notable works, thereby infringing on his copyright and moral rights.

As the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia operates over 200 jets to more than 100 destinations, and has recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain.

Zacharevic has stated that he will leave it to the court to determine any potential compensation he may be entitled to.

The artist emphasized that he does not consider the use of his artwork to be a mere reference to cultural or geographical associations, but rather a distinct artistic creation.

Zacharevic stressed that his artwork is the result of years of professional training, skill, and labor, and should be recognized as such.

Business

US Businesses and Consumers Bear Brunt of Trump Tariff Costs, According to NY Fed

In 2022, the United States saw a significant increase in collective import tariff rates, with rates rising by more than 300 percent for a range of imported goods.

The modification of tariff agreements by President Donald Trump with several countries had a consistent outcome: increased costs for US-based companies and consumers.

A damp sidewalk in New York City being crossed by men and women carrying shopping bags.

According to a study released on Thursday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average tariff rate on imported goods increased significantly, rising from 2.6% at the beginning of the year to 13% in 2025.

The New York Fed's research revealed that US companies absorbed approximately 90% of the costs associated with the higher tariffs imposed by Trump on goods from countries such as Mexico, China, Canada, and the European Union.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York stated that "the majority of the economic burden of the high tariffs imposed in 2025 continues to be borne by US firms and consumers."

When tariff rates changed and increased in the previous year, exporting countries did not adjust their prices to mitigate potential declines in US demand.

Instead of lowering prices, exporters maintained their existing prices and transferred the tariff costs to US importers, who subsequently increased the prices of these goods for consumers.

The response of exporters in 2025 was similar to their reaction in 2018, when Trump introduced certain tariffs during his first term, resulting in higher consumer prices with minimal other economic effects, as noted by the New York Fed at the time.

The New York Fed's findings on Thursday are consistent with the results of other recent analyses.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research organization, reported last month that its research indicated "nearly complete pass-through of tariffs to US import prices."

By analyzing 25 million transactions, Kiel researchers discovered that the prices of goods from countries like Brazil and India did not decrease.

The Kiel report noted that "trade volumes declined" instead, indicating that exporters preferred to reduce the quantity of goods shipped to the US rather than lower their prices.

The National Bureau of Economic Research also found that the pass-through of tariffs to US import prices was "nearly 100%", meaning that the US bears the cost of the price increase, not the exporting countries.

Similarly, the Tax Foundation, a Washington DC-based think tank, found that the increased tariffs on goods in 2025 resulted in higher costs for American households.

The Tax Foundation considered tariffs as a new tax on consumers and estimated that the 2025 increases resulted in an average cost of $1,000 (£734.30) per household, with a projected cost of $1,300 in 2026.

The Tax Foundation reported that the "effective" tariff rate, which accounts for decreased consumer purchases due to higher prices, is now 9.9%, representing the highest average rate since 1946.

The Tax Foundation concluded that the economic benefits of tax cuts included in Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will be entirely offset by the impacts of the tariffs on households.

Business

BBC Reporter Exposed to Cyber Attack Due to Vulnerabilities in AI Coding Tool

The demand for vibe-coding tools, which enable individuals without coding experience to develop applications using artificial intelligence, is experiencing rapid growth.

A significant and unresolved cyber-security vulnerability has been identified in a popular AI coding platform, according to information provided to the BBC.

BBC reporter's laptop wallpaper reads "you are hacked" with an image of a robot skull — The hacker was able to hijack a BBC reporter's laptop to upload this wallpaper

The platform, known as Orchids, utilizes a "vibe-coding" approach, enabling individuals without technical expertise to create apps and games by inputting text prompts into a chatbot.

In recent months, such platforms have gained widespread popularity, often being touted as an early example of how AI can rapidly and affordably perform various professional tasks.

However, experts warn that the ease with which Orchids can be compromised highlights the risks associated with granting AI bots extensive access to computers in exchange for autonomous task execution.

Despite repeated requests for comment, the company has not responded to the BBC's inquiries.

Orchids claims to have a user base of one million and boasts partnerships with top companies, including Google, Uber, and Amazon.

According to ratings from App Bench and other analysts, Orchids is considered the top program for certain aspects of vibe coding.

Cyber-security researcher Etizaz Mohsin demonstrated the platform's security flaws to the BBC.

To test the platform's security, a spare laptop was used to download the Orchids desktop app and initiate a vibe-coding project.

A request was made to the Orchids AI assistant to generate code for a computer game based on the BBC News website.

Screenshot of the Orchids app. Shows computer code being created in an action window and folders and chat box — Orchids is one of many AI agent platforms that writes code for users who have no experience

The AI assistant automatically compiled code on the screen, which, without prior experience, was unintelligible.

By exploiting a specific cyber-security weakness, Mohsin was able to access the project and view and edit the code.

Mohsin then added a line of code to the project, which went unnoticed.

This action apparently allowed him to gain access to the computer, as evidenced by the subsequent appearance of a "Joe is hacked" notepad file on the desktop and a changed wallpaper featuring an AI hacker image.

The potential implications of this hack on the platform's numerous projects are significant.

A malicious hacker could have easily installed a virus on the machine without any action required from the victim.

Sensitive personal or financial data could have been compromised.

An attacker could have accessed internet history or even used the computer's cameras and microphones for surveillance.

Most cyber-attacks involve tricking victims into downloading malicious software or divulging login credentials.

This particular attack was carried out without any involvement from the victim, known as a zero-click attack.

Mohsin stated that the vibe-coding revolution has introduced a new class of security vulnerabilities that did not previously exist, highlighting the risks associated with relying on AI to handle tasks.

The concept of AI handling tasks autonomously comes with significant risks, according to Mohsin.

Mohsin, a 32-year-old from Pakistan currently residing in the UK, has a history of discovering dangerous software flaws, including work on the Pegasus spyware.

Etizaz Mohsin standing at the podium giving a presentation. He has black hair and wearing a brown leather jacket and jeans — Etizaz Mohsin speaking about cyber-security at the prestigious BlackHat conference

Mohsin discovered the flaw in December 2025 while experimenting with vibe-coding and has since attempted to contact Orchids through various channels, sending around a dozen messages.

The Orchids team responded to Mohsin this week, stating that they may have missed his warnings due to being overwhelmed with incoming messages.

According to the company's LinkedIn page, Orchids is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2025 with fewer than 10 employees.

Mohsin has only identified flaws in Orchids and not in other vibe-coding platforms, such as Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and Lovable.

Nonetheless, experts caution that this discovery should serve as a warning.

Professor Kevin Curran of Ulster University's cybersecurity department notes that the main security implications of vibe-coding are the potential for code to fail under attack due to a lack of discipline, documentation, and review.

Agentic AI tools, which perform complex tasks with minimal human input, are increasingly gaining attention.

A recent example is the Clawbot agent, also known as Moltbot or Open Claw, which can execute tasks on a user's device with little human intervention.

The free AI agent has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands of people, granting it deep access to computers and potentially introducing numerous security risks.

Karolis Arbaciauskas, head of product at NordPass, advises caution when using such tools.

Arbaciauskas warns that while it may be intriguing to see what an AI agent can do without security measures, this level of access is also highly insecure.

He recommends running these tools on separate, dedicated machines and using disposable accounts for experimentation.

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