A Greek-flagged cargo ship with six Greek sailors is stranded in the port of Odessa in Odessa. The Ministry of Shipping requested the assistance of the Greek Consular Authority in Odessa for its intervention to the local authorities and the provision of any possible assistance, with the aim of sailing the ship.
Also, six other ships are at berths either Novorossiysk, Russia, or the Kerch Strait off Crimea, and another in Romanian territorial waters.
The ministry announcement
According to the survey/recording, in the sea area of the northern Black Sea (ports, anchorages and territorial waters of Russia and Ukraine) there are eight (8) ships under the Greek flag with sixty one (61) Greek sailors while in the southern Black Sea are five (5) ships under the Greek flag with thirty nine (39) Greek sailors.
Of the first eight, one (1) is in the port of Juzne Odessa, one (1) is in Romanian territorial waters, while the other six (6) are anchored in either Novorossiysk, Russia, or the Kerch Strait off Crimea.
So far, the presence of five (5) Greek-owned ships in the northern part of the Black Sea, with 19 Greek sailors on board, has been confirmed.
The Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) Joint Military Committee has classified Russian and Ukrainian waters of the Black and Azov Seas in the list of areas of increased military, piracy, terrorism and related dangers.
Based on the above announcement of the LMA, the terms and conditions of insurance of ships against war risks located in the area in question are changed and will be the subject of special negotiation between shipowners and insurers. The announcement does not affect the seafaring conditions of seafarers.
Since 24/2, Russia has announced the suspension of navigation in the Sea of Azov (closure of the Kerch Strait).
the Greek shipping community (NEE, EEE EENMA, PNO and PEPEN) for any development.
From the very first hours of the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24/2, a recommendation was issued to Greece as a flag state, for immediate removal and non-approach of Greek merchant ships to and from the ports and territorial waters of Ukraine and the Russian Federation in Black Sea, as well as at the berths of the above ports.
Yesterday 26/2, the Masters of the Greek and Greek-owned were informed to further increase the security measures they have already taken for the safety of the crews, their ships.
The Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center and the Maritime Labor Directorate communicate regularly with masters of all Greek ships in the area and no other problem has been reported.
shipping companies that their ships, when sailing in the ports of the two countries in the Black and Azov Seas, must apply increased security measures.
The only recorded problem, so far, is located in the port of Yuzne in Odessa, where a cargo ship under the Greek flag, with six Greek sailors, is parachuted. The ship is not sailed by the Ukrainian authorities due to the suspension of operation, by order of the Ukrainian navy, of the country's ports due to the war.
The Greek Consular Authority in Odessa was requested to assist to the local authorities and to provide all possible assistance, with the aim of sailing the ship.
At the level of the European Commission, the specialization of sanctions by the competent bodies of the EU Council to be continued. With the completion of the legislative process, which is estimated today or within the next two days at the latest, the degree of concern related to maritime transport will be known.
Finally, it should be noted that in constant communication with the masters of these of ships is from 24/2 and the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Giannis Plakiotakis ”.
