International Chamber of Shipping: Shipping community calls on UN to urgently evacuate seafarers trapped in Ukrainian ports
23.2.2023 21:36:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
The world’s leading maritime organisations and companies have released an open letter calling on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urgently prioritise the evacuation of 331 seafarers and 62 ships that remain trapped in Ukrainian ports.
The 34 signatories, including the International Chamber of Shipping, NKY Line, the Union of Greek Shipowners, Danish Shipping, and seafarer charities, called the situation an ‘unacceptable risk to life.’
In February 2022, 112 vessels crewed by more than 2,000 seafarers were berthed in Ukranian ports across the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Since then, 1,700 have been safely evacuated and have been able to return to their families or return to their work of keeping global trade flowing.
The remaining 331 seafarers from countries such as Bangladesh, Philippines, Turkey, Syria, China, Egypt, Lebanon, Greece, Indonesia, Ghana, India, Azerbaijan and Georgia, remain to maintain the safety and protect against environmental harm. No other industry have non-combatants in the area over a year on from the start of the conflict, as they can only leave when the ships leave.
Some of the ports where these seafarers remain have resumed operability, facilitating the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Shipping has been integral in carrying out this UN-brokered humanitarian effort, with crews sailing along the borders of the conflict zone to ensure the world continues to receive vital grain deliveries. However, ships who are not able to transport grain are excluded and remain trapped.
Since the onset of the war, shipping companies, charities, and unions have continually called for the safe and immediate evacuation of the trapped seafarers. They have also worked in coordination with international organisations to facilitate the evacuation effort, supported the trapped seafarers’ families, and provided the seafarers with provisions including food, clean water, and medical supplies.
To mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, the shipping community sent this open letter to UNSG Guterres, calling on him to use his diplomatic abilities to evacuate the remaining seafarers ships.
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
About ICS
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, representing all sectors and trades and over 80% of the world merchant fleet.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230223005829/en/
Contact information
Katerina Dimitropoulos, Communications Manager, ICS
katerina.dimitropoulos@ics-shipping.org / +44 7494 363434
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Xsolla Announces Reseller Program to Help Game Developers Unlock New Revenue Streams in Local Markets5.3.2026 19:00:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, today announced the Xsolla Reseller Program, a new product designed to help game developers scale and capture untapped revenue in local markets with no development needed. The program launches with a curated cohort of resellers and distributors in Southeast Asia and Latin America, with expansion into additional regions throughout 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305047070/en/ Graphic: Xsolla As game developers pursue global growth, they face a fundamental infrastructure challenge: billions of dollars in revenue remain untapped in emerging, cash-dependent economies, such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa, where players purchase digital content through local distribution partners. In mature digital economies, developers seek to extend their reach and distribute digital inventory at scale through more partners and chan
Xsolla Agency Launches to Empower Creators Across Entertainment-Based Intellectual Property5.3.2026 17:23:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, today launched Xsolla Agency, a comprehensive service connecting game developers with premium entertainment-based intellectual property (IP). The integrated offering addresses critical challenges for game creators: access to world-class IP, global monetization capabilities, and the operational infrastructure needed to build sustainable businesses. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305044119/en/ Graphic: Xsolla Xsolla Agency simplifies access to entertainment-based licenses through expert-led negotiations and industry relationships, offering affordable, monetization-focused deals structured for maximum ROI. Strategic IP partnerships increase discoverability, reduce user acquisition costs, and drive higher player spend through impactful LiveOps events and promotional campaigns. The service is backed by the same commerce infrastructure powering 1,500+ game developers
Onego Bio and Sigma Foods Enter Collaboration to Strengthen Egg Protein Innovation and Supply Resilience5.3.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Onego Bio, a food ingredient company producing non-animal egg protein, and Sigma Foods ("SIGMA"), a leading multinational food company, have entered into a collaboration agreement to evaluate the functionality and commercial potential of Bioalbumen®, a non-animal egg protein made with using precision fermentation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260305756400/en/ The partnership focuses on advancing ingredient innovation while addressing urgent challenges in today’s egg supply chain—including volatility, rising prices, and avian flu-related disruptions. Bioalbumen® offers a shelf-stable, animal-free alternative that delivers the same functional, nutritional, and sensory performance as traditional eggs, while helping safeguard supply continuity for food manufacturers. Additionally, this collaboration supports Sigma’s commitment to offering safe, nutritious, and high-quality food, while driving science-based inno
Vertex to Present New Data on JOURNAVX ® That Demonstrates Effective Pain Management Following Aesthetic and Reconstructive Procedures5.3.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced data from a Phase 4 study of JOURNAVX® (suzetrigine), a prescription non-opioid pain signal inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, in adults, that demonstrated effective pain management and enabled opioid-free recovery after a broad range of plastic surgical procedures. These data showed that the majority of patients (90.9%) in the study were opioid free through the end of treatment (up to 14 days), demonstrating the potential for JOURNAVX as a core element of opioid-free multimodal treatment for moderate-to-severe acute pain after aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. In contrast, the literature shows opioid-free rates of less than 10% with multimodal treatment without JOURNAVX. These data will be presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) PainConnect 2026 meeting, March 5-8, 2026, in Salt Lake City, UT. This Phase 4 open-label, multicenter, single-arm study evaluated JOURNAVX w
Andersen Consulting Expands Capabilities Through Collaboration with Opinno5.3.2026 16:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Consulting strengthens its platform through a Collaboration Agreement with Opinno, a global consultancy headquartered in Spain that integrates digital transformation with corporate innovation. Founded in 2008, Opinno helps organizations rethink how they innovate, transform, and grow in the digital economy. The firm applies design thinking, agile methodologies, and open collaboration models to deliver results across three core areas: digital transformation, innovation, and content and ecosystems. Its digital transformation practice emphasizes AI from both strategic and design perspectives, while its innovation practice accelerates the development and market launch of products and services. Through its content and ecosystem programs, Opinno drives engagement and helps build connected, future-ready organizations. “At Opinno, innovation and digital transformation are more than processes; they are channels for meaningful impact,” said Pedro Moneo, founder and CEO of Opinno. “Our hy
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom