Currently, 331 seafarers are stranded on 62 ships in nine Ukrainian ports, including Mariupol and Odesa, Dryad Global founding partner Munro Anderson told Rigzone.
“Prior to the Russian invasion, approximately 2,000 seafarers were stationed on 112 vessels in Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov,” Munro said in a statement sent to Rigzone.
“After the outbreak of war, most of the crew members were evacuated. However, there are currently 331 seafarers stranded,” he added.
In the statement, Anderson noted that the UN has recently been urged to support the repatriation of sailors trapped in Ukraine and to explore the possibility of removing these vessels.
“This is likely to come up as part of renegotiation efforts on the future implementation of the grains agreement,” Anderson said.
“Despite that, it remains to be seen if this is something that is included,” he added.
Dealing with cereals
In a statement published on its website in September 2022, the UN noted that following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “mountains of grain built into silos, with ships unable to secure safe passage there from Ukrainian ports, and land routes unable to compensate”.
This contributed to a jump in the price of staple foods around the world, the UN statement said, adding that, “combined with the rising cost of energy, developing countries are see pushed to the brink of debt default.”
The UN, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine agreed on the Black Sea Grains Initiative on July 22, 2022, the UN statement noted. The agreement allowed Ukraine’s exports of grain, other food products and fertilizers, including ammonia, to resume through a secure maritime humanitarian corridor from three “key” Ukrainian ports – Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi – to the rest of the world. the UN statement noted.
The initiative was renewed for 120 days in November and is currently scheduled to end on March 19, the UN website notes.
Blinken, Guterres meeting
US State Department Secretary Antony J. Blinken met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier this month, the US State Department website shows.
“The two discussed the need to promote a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and stressed the importance of continuing to uphold the United Nations Charter and provide humanitarian support to Ukraine and the region,” the State Department spokesman said of the United States, Ned Price, in a government statement in February. 24.
“The Secretary stressed the importance of an automatic extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative by March 18,” Price added in the statement.
To contact the author, please send an email andreas.exarcheas@rigzone.com
