MSC Resolution: Actions to facilitate seafarer evacuation

The Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO) Maritime Security Committee (MSC 105), which met 20-29 April 2022, adopted the next decision on 28 April 2022:

RESOLUTION MSC.495(105) – Actions to facilitate the pressing evacuation of seafarers from the warfare zone space in and across the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on account of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine.

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Conference on the Worldwide Maritime Group regarding the capabilities of the Committee,

RECALLING that the aim of the Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO) as set forth in Article 1 of the IMO Conference and the mission within the Strategic Plan of IMO is to advertise protected, safe, environmentally sound, environment friendly and sustainable delivery by means of cooperation,

NOTING that the Council, at its thirty-fifth extraordinary session, regarding the battle in Ukraine:

1. recalled that UN Normal Meeting decision A/RES/ES-11/1 of two March 2022, inter alia, condemned the declaration by the Russian Federation of a “particular army operation” in Ukraine, deplored within the strongest phrases the aggression by the Russian Federation towards Ukraine in violation of article 2(4) of the Constitution, and demanded that the Russian Federation instantly stop its use of pressure towards Ukraine and chorus from any additional illegal risk or use of pressure towards any Member State,
2. underscored the paramount significance of preserving the security and welfare of seafarers and urged Member States and observer organizations to offer most help to seafarers caught up within the battle,
3. underscored the necessity to protect the safety of worldwide delivery and the maritime neighborhood, and the provision chains that maintain different nations, in addition to provide chains offering crucial meals and medicines to the folks of Ukraine,
4. recalled the assertion of the Secretary-Normal of 26 February 2022 which expressed his grave concern relating to the spill over results of the army motion in Ukraine on world delivery, and logistics and provide chains, particularly the impacts on the supply of commodities and meals to growing nations and the impacts on vitality provides; and highlighted that ships, seafarers and port employees engaged in reliable commerce shouldn’t be collateral victims within the political and army disaster,
5. underlined that ships must be allowed to sail from the ports of Ukraine on the earliest alternative with out risk of assault; and that for these ships that can’t depart instantly, or the place it will be unsafe to take action because of the presence of sea mines or different hazards, humanitarian corridors be arrange that allow the security of seafarers by permitting them to go away the battle zone and return house, as acceptable,
6. invited the Secretary-Normal to collaborate with the related events and take crucial rapid actions to provoke the institution and assist the implementation of a blue protected maritime hall within the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and hold Member States knowledgeable of developments, and to report back to a future session of the Council,
7. condemned any type of harassment of seafarers as a consequence of their nationality and underlined that seafarers affected by the battle must be allowed free entry to communications with their households,

BEING DEEPLY CONCERNED by the affect of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine on the security and welfare of seafarers, together with their psychological well being and that of their households,

BEARING IN MIND the affect of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine on the security and safety of navigation and the integrity of world provide chains, given that just about all of Ukraine’s grain exports are carried out by means of seaports on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov the place the Russian Federation naval blockade and shelling of ships and port infrastructure prevents industrial ships, together with some loaded with grain and different agriculture commodities, from leaving the ports, as famous within the latest experiences by UNCTAD and the choice of the Worldwide Grains Council of 6 April 2022,

BEING GRAVELY CONCERNED by the variety of ships and seafarers at present stranded within the Black Sea and Sea of Azov area and unable to go away the realm security, the collateral harm to many service provider ships and the tragic accidents and deaths of seafarers on account of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine,

BEING ALARMED by experiences that seafarers in some Ukrainian ports not have safe entry to recent meals, water and medical provides on account of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine,

BEING FURTHER ALARMED by the experiences of unlawful seizure and detention of civilian ships, together with SAR ships, and their crews, all of which get pleasure from particular safety below worldwide humanitarian regulation,

NOTING that the Secretary-Normal and the Director-Normal of the Worldwide Labour Group (ILO), have collectively written to the Heads of the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF); and to the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to request pressing motion wherever possible to help within the reprovisioning of the ships involved with the important provides wanted by their seafarers,

1. THANKS the Secretary-Normal for taking motion to advertise the institution of a Blue Protected Hall and to facilitate dialogue with key stakeholders to assist the security and safety of seafarers, service provider delivery, the marine atmosphere and world provide chains;
2. REQUESTS the Secretary-Normal to proceed to make use of his good places of work to safe the help of worldwide humanitarian our bodies such because the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross (ICRC), United Nations Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to offer, as a matter of urgency, humanitarian assist to seafarers stranded in Ukrainian ports and to help of their protected and expeditious evacuation; from the zone of hostilities;
3. ALSO REQUESTS that, on this regard, the Secretary-Normal proceed to look at the institution of different corridors for the continued protected and expeditious evacuation of seafarers and ships from the zone of hostilities;
4. FURTHER REQUESTS that the Secretary-Normal proceed to offer common updates on the affect of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine on worldwide delivery and the wellbeing of seafarers;
5. CALLS on the Russian Federation to right away and unconditionally stop its aggression towards Ukraine, withdraw its troops from the area, together with Ukraine’s territorial waters, in addition to chorus from taking steps in furtherance of the army operations, which have an effect on the evacuation of business ships and seafarers from the warfare zones;
6. URGES Member States to lift issues relating to the collateral affect of the Russian Federation aggression towards Ukraine on seafarers, port employees, security and safety of navigation, world provide chains and meals safety on the United Nations Normal Meeting and different United Nations Specialised Companies, and request these our bodies to hunt an answer to alleviate these essential issues, aiming to contribute to a peaceable answer.

Supply: IMO