The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word DEBARKS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
D
E
B
A
R
K
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "abandons ship" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case abandons ship = debarks.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DEBARKS mean?
DEBARKS verb- To unload goods from an aircraft or ship.
- To disembark.
- To remove the bark from a tree, especially one that has been felled.
- To devocalize (a dog).