Upwards of 200 ships carrying a variety of cargo are reported to be trapped in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to the London-based maritime tracker Windward Limited, more than 3,500 sailors serving on those ships are also stranded due to a halt in maritime traffic in the area.
Some of the ships, carrying corn and wheat, have been hit by Russian missiles as part of a larger attack on the Ukraine’s port infrastructure.
Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, told a reporter for the Reuters news service that “multiple ships have been hit by munitions, seafarers have been killed and injured, and seafarers of all nationalities are trapped on ships berthed in ports.”
International shipping organizations, in response, have called for the establishment of a safe maritime corridor that would allow all the trapped vessels to sail out of the endangered areas.
The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners of London has disclosed that besides grain, many of the ships were also carrying coal.
According to the publication Outsider the trapped status of the ships not only represents a threat to the life of the sailors, but is also the latest challenge in a global supply chain beset with problems.
“With the war continuing, there is no telling when supply chains will return to normal,” said the publication.
In an advisory, the U.S. Maritime Administration has cautioned U.S.-flagged ships to stay away from both the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, noting in particular the danger of naval mines, GPS interruptions, and communications jamming.
The agency notes that since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been reports of “multiple commercial vessels being struck by projectiles and/or experiencing explosions” in the area.
The advisory further states that U.S. flagged commercial vessels still in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov should report any suspicious activity immediately to the NATO Shipping Center, which is tasked with providing military support for maritime units that are registered with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member country.
By Garry Boulard
