Over the last few weeks ever since Russia’s special military operation in eastern Ukraine on 24 February 2022 local time, the region remains in spiking tension as peace talks on both sides seemed to have gone nowhere. The impact of the situation on shipping is becoming clear with repeated reports of assaults on merchant ships, many concerned with the safety of ships and crews operating int the region.

I. Impact on ship safety

1. Assaults by missiles and sea mines might be the greatest threat for ships navigating in the Black Sea area. Splash has tallied at least five merchant ships hit by various forms of munitions since the beginning of the war.

Turkish bulk carrier Yasa Jupiter was hit by missile off Odessa, Black Sea on February 24^th. There was no crew hurt and the ship sustained minor damages, becoming the first confirmed merchant ship casualty of war following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On February 25^th, chemical tanker Millenial Spirit under the flag of the Republic of Moldova was hit by a missile 12 nm south of Yuzhniy port, Ukraine. A fire broke out on board the vessel and 2 men were hurt.

On February 25^th, Panama-flagged bulk carrier Namura Queen was hit by a rocket at Yuzhniy Port outer anchorage, one crew member hurt.

On March 2^nd, Bangladeshi bulk carrier Banglar Samriddhi was hit by a missile off Port Olvia, causing a fire on board and one man killed.

On March 3^rd, Estonian-owned cargo ship Helt sunk after hitting a mine some 20 nm off the port of Odessa. The crew members abandoned ship and got rescued later.

2. With GPS and AIS signal interfered in the Black Sea waters, ships operating in the area are faced with elevated risks of cyber-attacks. This could result in loss of ship’s position, loss or error of ship’s identification, and probably spoofing attacks.
3. According to information by local correspondent CIS, routine ship maintenance is suspended on most ships stuck at Ukrainian ports and anchorages to keep the crews from being exposed on deck. There are also restrictions on provision of food, fresh water and bunkers with no supplies to be taken.

II. Impact on crew safety

1. According to a 2021 report published by BIMCO, there are approximately 198,000 Russian seafarers and 76,000 Ukrainian seafarers, making up respectively 10.5% and 4% of the global workforce. Ukraine has now banned all male citizens 18-60 years old from leaving the country, making crew change particularly difficult with the impact of the pandemic. Seafarers of both countries have to extend their contracts and at the same time, many are seeking asylum.
2. Chances of onboard clashes are increasing between crews of mixed Russian and Ukrainian nationalities in the escalating conflict. An incident involving a mixed crew has been reported onboard a ship managed by Danica Crewing Service, a leading crewing agency in Ukraine. Natalie Shaw, director of employment affairs at the International Chamber of Shipping, warned that “the current good will among crew to be friendly with each other is going to deteriorate drastically in the next few days without any question as people start to hear about their families being affected – that is when I think it is going to become much more fractious onboard.”
3. Many Ukrainian seafarers are worried about their families while not being able to be repatriated. Sailors’ Society CEO Sara Baade has talked to the chaplains about their conversations with those affected, saying that they are “extremely concerned for the safety of their families. Some are frightened to return to their country, as they know it will mean taking up arms. Many sob as they talk about their fears and frustrations. This is tearing them apart.”
4. Some shipping companies are encountering difficulties in paying Russian seafarers with Russia being sanctioned with an exclusion from the SWIFT network.
5. Seafarers stranded in Ukraine ports and waters now lack food, fuel, fresh water and pandemic prevention supplies. As it is impossible to predict when they can leave, seafarers are controlling the consumption of the vital supplies. While use of electric and heating devices is limited, grave risks are presented to their health and mental wellbeing.

III. Industry concerns

1. The United Nation’s Shipping Agency called for safe transportation of commercial vessels without the threat of being hit after several reported attacks.
2. IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said on Feb 27^th that the security situation in Ukraine is impacting maritime trade and the safety of people at sea, including seafarers. He urged all parties to take action to ensure safety of seafarers, ships and commodities. He then reiterated over the weekend to protect the safety of seafarers. “Shipping, particularly seafarers, cannot be collateral victims in a larger political and military crisis – they must be safe and secure,” he said.
3. The Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) designated areas in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov as “Warlike Operations Areas” on March 2^nd, triggering an increased security level and other entitlements for seafarers in the war zone.
4. International maritime charity Sailors’ Society launched a Ukrainian Crisis Appeal on March 3^rd to support desperate seafarers caught up in the conflict.
5. IMO convened a special meeting on March 4^th to discuss the risks to seafarers and ships in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
6. NATO has also warned shipping of the risk of mines in the Black Sea. Ships are advised to stay well informed of the navigation warnings issued in the Black Sea area, covering a number of warning areas and mine danger areas, and keep well clear of the areas as well as warships and military craft.
7. Intertanko has opened dialogue with Kiev to try and get seafarers deemed as key workers in order for them to avoid military service.
8. Embassies in Ukraine are also working around the clock to repatriate hundreds of seafarers trapped in Ukrainian waters.
9. Danica Crewing Services called on shipowners to provide unlimited Internet on board for the crew members to keep in touch with their families. IEC Telecom advised on March 4^th that its usage figures for the past month show maritime comms traffic has risen by 30%, most of it over the previous seven days and attributable to extra calls to Ukraine.
10. Columbia Shipmanagement President Mark O’Neil expressed concern over Russian and Ukrainian employees working together on board and ashore. He stressed not to overestimate the importance of Russian seafarers and also to care about their interests, worries and feelings.

IV. Advice to Members

With industry-wide concern over the safety of ships and seafarers, some ships have cancelled their original plan to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and some stranded seafarers have been safely repatriated. Yet according to shipping information platform “The Sea”, there are still about 100 ships and more than 2,000 seafarers stuck in Ukrainian ports and waters. The military strikes, electronic interference, and information confrontation carried out by Russia and Ukraine have brought great threats to the safety of ships and crew members. Despite many circulars issued by flag state administrations to increase the ISPS security level, ships and crews are under tremendous impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and here are some tips for Members’ reference.

1. For merchant vessels on recent voyages to the Black Sea area, stay as far away as possible from the Ukrainian coast, clearly mark the warning areas and dangerous areas on sea chart, strengthen lookout and maintain a continuous watch, and sail away immediately once there is any warship in sight.
2. For ships whether en route or in berth, masters should always put in the correct AIS data and do not include any extra ship or cargo or crew information. Regularly check and test the AIS transponder to ensure proper function of the device.
3. Display proper lights for nighttime navigation and the vessel should be able to see the sternlight in case she is mistaken for a warship if lights are equipped both fore and aft. Ships at anchor should maintain the same lighting with surrounding ships.
4. Masters should be cautious with GPS alerts and carry out training regarding ship positioning with the OOW in case the GPS signals are jammed.
5. For stranded ships, control the consummation of food, freshwater, bunker and other vital supplies. Try not to arrange work on deck to minimize crew exposure.
6. If there are adequate spaces in the accommodation area, do not have any crew in rooms on both sides for these rooms are more likely to be hit.
7. Maintain the ship’s equipment and devices in a good condition and always ready for use.
8. Masters and crews are not encouraged to make any remarks about the Russia-Ukraine conflict on social media, especially when there are Russian/Ukrainian seafarers on board. Do not take pictures or videos, and do not make any comments on the war with agents or port officials.
9. With groups of Ukrainian refugees fled to the Europe, ships should also exercise caution on preventing stowaways. The gangway ladder should be lifted when ships are at anchor and ensure a regular duty watchkeeping.
10. Ships should be ready for potential attacks by performing drills of ship abandoning, medical assistance and emergency communication.

The article is based on the information disclosed by Russian/Ukrainian media and local correspondents and does not represent any opinion or point of view of the Association. For more information, please contact Managers of the Association.