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Urgent call to protect 1,000 seafarers trapped in UkraineUrgent call to protect 1,000 seafarers trapped in Ukraine

Call for urgent action to protect 1,000 crew trapped in Ukraine ports from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Marcus Hand, Editor

April 11, 2022

2 Min Read
Bangladeshi bulker on fire after missile strike
The Third Engineer of the bulker Banglar Samriddhi was killed in missile strikePhoto: Twitter screenshot

Six weeks into the war in Ukraine and over 100 vessels with 1,000 seafarers onboard are still unable to leave Ukraine ports and nearby waters. Many of the seafarers are on vessels in the port of Mariupol, which has come under heavy Russian bombardment, or on vessels in the Sea of Azov.

A call for “urgent action” was made in a joint letter to the heads of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder and IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim. 

“As well as the dangers arising from bombardment, many of the ships concerned now lack food, fuel, fresh water and other vital supplies.  The situation of the seafarers from many countries is becoming increasingly untenable as a result, presenting grave risks to their health and well-being,” the letter stated.

On 23 March the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) described the situation as “dire” in a joint briefing with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The ILO and IMO noted that its letter followed urgent communications sent by the ICS and ITF.

“ILO, IMO, ICS and ITF are working together to provide these relief agencies with information that may assist them to address this situation.”

Related:Situation ‘dire’ for seafarers in Sea of Azov as supplies dwindle

Attempts to set up blue corridors for vessels to sail out of the war zone has proved difficult and dangerous with waters mined around ports and ongoing conflict.

Merchant vessels have come under fire in waters near the Port of Mariupol. The State Border Guard of Ukraine reported on 5 April that a Dominican Republic-flagged cargoship Azburg located near to a berth was hit by shelling causing a fire in the engine room and injuring a crew member.

An SOS signal was reported to say: "Warning! Warning! The ship under the flag of the Dominican Republic was brutally destroyed, everything was destroyed, the bridge was destroyed. Fire in the engine room. There are wounded." A video recording is posted below of the SOS.

The border guard said they evacuated the wounded and crew to safety as the vessel started to sink.

 

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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