VDR demands safe passage for ships stranded in Ukraine

The German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) demands a protected exit for all ships of the international merchant fleet stranded in the war zone of the Black Sea. Even more than a month after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the VDR estimates that more than 60 merchant ships from various nations, including several vessels from German shipping companies, remain stuck in ports along the Ukrainian coast.

(Hamburg) The supply of food to the crews is becoming increasingly difficult. VDR President Dr. Gaby Bornheim said: “We demand that these ships be allowed to leave the ports as quickly as possible without the risk of attack. The ships must receive safe passage so that they can leave the war zone unharmed with their crews.”

The VDR therefore particularly calls on the Russian side to enable the “blue corridors” proposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO): “It is an untenable situation that – in addition to the Ukrainian population – more than 1,000 seafarers on board at least 60 merchant ships in the war region must fear for their lives. Ships and their crews must not become pawns in this war of aggression.”

Danger from mines and shelling

Currently, there are significant dangers for the merchant ships stranded in Ukrainian ports when attempting to exit to sea, such as mines and potential shelling from warships located off the Ukrainian coast. At least five merchant ships are reported to have already fallen victim to attacks in recent weeks, one of which sank.

Support for the stance of the EU and USA

In this context, the VDR President again condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine: “The violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty by Russia is unacceptable to us.” The association therefore supports the stance of the federal government, the EU, the United States, and other allies regarding sanctions: “We support strong economic measures against the invasion. The clearer such sanction regulations are defined and the less room for interpretation they provide, the better we can implement them in shipping.”

Photo: © Loginfo24/Adobe Stock / Image caption: The port of Odessa