On 23 September, a civilian cargo vessel flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda was attacked in the Black Sea. A fire broke out on board. The vessel’s Master, a Ukrainian national, was killed. The remaining crew members were evacuated.
The Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU) extends its deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of the deceased Master.
And this is not the only case that demands our attention today.
The MTWTU has received urgent information concerning two Syrian seafarers from the vessel MARIAM M (IMO 9167667, Tanzania flag), who sustained extremely serious injuries in an attack on the vessel in September and underwent surgery in Odesa.
One of the seafarers sustained multiple shrapnel wounds to the head, face and neck. The other lost his right forearm and suffered multiple fractures, shrapnel wounds and abdominal injuries. Both require further specialised medical treatment.
But today, on top of their physical suffering, these men are facing another serious problem. According to information received by the MTWTU from DIAS Marine Consulting, after initial financial guarantees were provided, further payment for their medical treatment was suspended. The clinic has confirmed that outstanding medical bills remain unpaid. According to DIAS, the outstanding amount is approximately UAH 2.27 million.
In addition, urgent arrangements are needed to ensure the continuation of their treatment, the restoration of their documents and their subsequent repatriation.
“Today, it is not enough simply to speak about seafarers’ safety after yet another tragedy.
What is needed is practical action: protection of civilian shipping, an appropriate international response to attacks on merchant vessels, real accountability on the part of those responsible for ensuring the medical treatment and repatriation of crews, and effective mechanisms for providing urgent assistance to seafarers.
Behind every such report, there is not simply a vessel, a flag or a statistic. There are people who go to sea to do their jobs.
Seafarers have the right to return home alive. And when they are injured in the course of their work, they must not be left to face their injuries, medical bills and the struggle for their future alone,” said Oleg Grygoriuk, Chairman of the Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union of Ukraine and Vice-President of the International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA).
The MTWTU is taking the necessary steps within its mandate and capabilities, including bringing these cases to the attention of international partners and seeking practical solutions to protect the affected seafarers.
At the same time, the Trade Union emphasises that seafarers’ rights and the guarantees provided to them must not merely be declared — they must be effectively ensured and upheld, regardless of a seafarer’s nationality, the vessel’s flag, the area of operation or any other circumstances.
Safety, medical care, protection and the right to repatriation cannot depend on where an incident occurs or which passport a seafarer holds. These are fundamental rights of people who work at sea, and they must be guaranteed in practice.
