94 foreign ships are blocked in the ports of Ukraine due to Russian aggression

Since the beginning of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine 94 ships with foreign crews have been blocked in the Black Sea-Azov basin. It was stated by Vitalyi Kindrativ, Head of the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Ukraine at the IMO Assembly, stated in a press release of the Service.

“It’s necessary to open sea humanitarian corridors to withdraw merchant ships from the war zone, and evacuate crews in the case, when it is not possible to withdraw ships. It is paid special attention to ensure the possibility for Ukrainian sailors to leave ships in safe ports”, says the message.

Moreover missile attacks are carried out on merchant ships by the aggression state. As the result of such an attack one sailor was killed, another ship sank due to the shelling the Russian Navy near the Odessa port.

The Head of the State Service condemned Russia in disregard of international law. He stated that Russia’s illegal action pose a significant threat not only to Ukrainian shipping but also disrupt the global trade routes.

“The delegates of the meeting supported the speech, and agreed to focus joint efforts on opening sea humanitarian corridors to withdraw merchant ships caught in the war zone”, concludes the message .

As a reminder, since the beginning of the war, the seaports of Ukraine were closed due to mine danger as well as due to the piracy threat from the Black Sea Fleet ships of the Russian Federation. Since the beginning of the military invasion the cargo turnover of the Ukraine sea ports has decreased by 420 thousand tons per year.

As reported earlier, the Ministry of the Infrastructure of Ukraine directed around 50 appeals to the world leading maritime states, and organizations with the information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and facts of its violations of the international maritime laws. It demands to stop communication with Russian ports as well as servicing Russian ships in ports of other states.