Shipping companies and maritime organisations have urged the UN secretary general to help evacuate hundreds of seafarers who have been trapped onboard vessels in Ukrainian ports for a year.
About 2,000 seafarers in 112 ships were berthed in Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov before Russia’s invasion. After the war broke out, most crew were evacuated, but 331 seafarers remain stuck on 62 vessels across nine Ukrainian ports, including Mariupol and Odesa.
A letter to António Guterres, signed by more than 30 maritime organisations – including the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which represents more than 80% of the world merchant fleet – has called on him to prioritise the safe evacuation of the crews.
It praises the Black Sea grain initiative, a deal negotiated by the UN and Turkey in July to allow the safe passage of grain, foodstuffs and fertiliser to vulnerable populations in north Africa and the Middle East. The initiative has enabled at least 941 voyages through three Ukrainian ports, Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny.
The signatories said they were committed to the continued success of the grain initiative, but said it “cannot come at the expense of innocent seafarers’ lives”.
“Without our seafarers, movement of the vital grain shipments out of Ukraine would not have been possible,” the letter said. “While there are challenges to evacuating seafarers and their ships, it must nonetheless be a top priority. Otherwise, we risk the lives of our seafarers, and this is unacceptable.”
“The situation is severe,” said Natalie Shaw, the director of employment affairs at the ICS. “There are very clear security risks. They have had to endure terrible conditions over the past year, living aboard vessels that are key targets.”
A combination of factors has left the 331 seafarers, which includes Russians and Ukrainians, trapped onboard their ships. The grain initiative allows the export of grain and other materials from just three of Ukraine’s 18 seaports. Ships that are unsuitable for carrying grain are not allowed to leave, but mines have been dropped around many of Ukraine’s ports – making movement impossible anyway.
Chaplain Rostyslav Inzhestoikov of Stella Maris, a charity that also signed the letter, said he had had no contact with seafarers stuck on ships because they were staying inside for safety reasons. However, Stella Maris in Ukraine has begun an online seafarers’ support service to offer remote psychological support to seafarers and their families, he said.
“Last year, I talked to seafarers by phone who were trapped in the port of Mykolaiv. It was very close to the frontline so from the bridge they can hear or see explosions and missile attacks,” Inzhestoikov said.
“Of course they will be scared by what’s going on and whether the next bomb or rocket can hit the ship. Psychologically, spiritually and emotionally, it is not easy to be on a ship if the war is in your eyesight.”
