Shipowner and seafarer representatives are warning of a looming humanitarian crisis among an estimated 1,000 or more crew trapped on vessels around the war-ravaged ports of south Ukraine.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said that they estimate there are about 140 ships with at least 1,000 crew trapped in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov war zone with no way out.
On top of the threat to life from the growing hostilities in the region — that have already claimed at least one, and maybe up to four seafarers’ lives — food and water are also running low with no safe way to supply ships.
