24 February 2023 will mark one year since the onset of the war in Ukraine. Over 30 organisations and companies, including IUMI, have written a joint open letter urgently calling on the UN Secretary General – His Excellency António Guterres – to prioritise the immediate release of the 331 seafarers and 62 ships that remain trapped in Ukrainian ports. Read the joint industry open letter below and attached here.
Joint open letter on seafarers still trapped in Ukraine
Re: Shipping industry call for help to evacuate the 300+ seafarers still trapped in Ukraine ports
Your Excellency Secretary-General Guterres,
As we approach one year since the start of the war in Ukraine, the co-signatories of this letter write to you to highlight the 331 seafarers still trapped on vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. We call on the United Nations, and on your diplomatic influence, to address this matter urgently and evacuate all remaining seafarers and ships.
Our seafarers are the heart of our industry and cannot be forgotten. For 12 months now they have been caught up in a crisis far beyond their control. Simply doing their jobs cannot come at the expense of their lives.
We recognise and celebrate the United Nations, and your leadership, for the Black Sea Grain Initiative that the UN successfully brokered with Türkiye between Ukraine and Russia. This has allowed safe passage of critical grain and fertiliser shipments from Ukraine to populations most in need, and curbed food prices from spiralling out of control. We are committed to supporting the continued success of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, however this cannot come at the expense of innocent seafarers’ lives. Action must be taken now.
Without our seafarers, movement of the vital grain shipments out of Ukrainian ports would not have been possible. 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.
Yours faithfully,
Please kindly see below the full list of signatories to the letter.
Bahamas Shipowners Association – Mr. John Adams, Chairman
BIMCO – Mr.David Loosley, Secretary General & CEO
CONFIRTAMA – Italian Shipowners’ Association – Mr. Mario Mattioli, President of Italian Shipowners’ Association
Cyprus Shipping Chamber – Mr. Thomas A. Kazakos, Director General
Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha – Mr. Masaharu Kurosawa, Representative Director, President Executive Officer
Danish Shipping – Ms. Anne H.Steffensen, Director General and CEO
European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) – Mr. Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General
FONASBA – Mr. Jonathan C.Williams FICS, General Manager
IINO KAIUN KAISHA, LTD. (IINO LINES) – Mr. Hiromi Tosha, President and Representative Director
INTERCARGO – Dr. Kostas G. Gkonis, CEO
InterManager – Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General
International Chamber of Shipping – Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman
International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) – Mr. Jason Zuidema, General Secretary
International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA) – Mr. Jim Scorer, Secretary General
International Maritime Employers’ Council Ltd. (IMEC) – Mr. Francesco Gargiulo, Chief Executive Officer
International Maritime Health Association (IMHA) – Dr. Robert Verbist, President
International Parcel Tankers Associations (IPTA) – Mr. Mike Beviss, General Manager
International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) – Mr. Lars Lange, Secretary General
INTERTANKO – Dr. Phillip Belcher, Marine Director
Japanese Shipowners’ Association – Mr. Junichiro Ikeda, President
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) – Mr. Yukikazu Myochin, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. – Mr. Takeshi Hashimoto, Representative Director, President, Chief Executive Officer
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) – Mr. Hitoshi Nagasawa, President, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Sailors’ Society – Ms. Sara Baade, CEO
Seafarers Hospital Society – Ms. Sandra Welch, CEO
Stella Maris – Mr. Martin Foley, Chief Executive Officer/European Regional Coordinator
Synergy Denmark A/S – Mr. Tommy Thomassen, COO
The Mission to Seafarers – Mr. Andrew Wright, Secretary General
The Seafarers’ Charity – Ms. Deborah Layde, Chief Executive
UK Chamber of Shipping – Ms. Sarah Treseder, CEO
Union of Greek Shipowners – Ms. Melina Travlos, President
Verband Deutscher Reeder (VDR) – Dr. Gaby Bornheim, President & Dr. Martin Kröger, CEO
CC: His Excellency Kitack Lim
Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
4 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7SR
United Kingdom
CC: His Excellency Gilbert F. Houngbo
Director-General of the International Labour Organization
4 route des Morillons
CH-1211
Genève 22
Switzerland
