Merchant shipping under fire as Russia’s aggression continues
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At least three merchant ships have been hit since Russian forces began its attack against Ukraine.
A carrier chartered by Cargill Inc. was hit while sailing in Ukrainian waters. The vessel was empty when the incident occurred and taken to safety, the company said.
On Friday, Millennial Spirit (a chemical tanker), under the flag of Moldova was hit by a shell in the Black Sea, according to the country’s naval agency. A fire broke out, destroying equipment and lifeboats, and forcing the crew to abandon ship in their life jackets.
A third ship, Namura Queen (pictured above), was hit by a rocket, according to Bloomberg.
Kitack Lim, secretary general of IMO (International Maritime Organisation), has called for Russia’s aggression to cease immediately.
“As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Ukraine, I fully support and stand with UN secretary general António Guterres’ call for hostilities to cease immediately,” says Lim.
“I am gravely concerned about the spill over effects of the military action in Ukraine on global shipping, and logistics and supply chains, in particular the impacts on the delivery of commodities and food to developing nations and the impacts on energy supplies.
“Along with the people of Ukraine, innocent ships, seafarers and port workers engaged in legitimate trade should not be adversely impacted by this growing crisis.
“Shipping, particularly seafarers, cannot be collateral victims in a larger political and military crisis – they must be safe and secure.”
“We are seeing activity where vessels are being struck,” says Munro Anderson, founding partner at security advisory Dryad Global. “Any vessel that is sitting off Ukraine waters should have left long ago. It is a warzone, we’ve been saying that for 48 hours. Any vessel in Ukraine waters needs to leave immediately, broadcasting clearly on AIS and making their intentions known.”
Istanbul-based YA-SA Holding says Yasa Jupiter, a Marshall Island-flagged bulker it owns, was slightly damaged by a shell after unloading coal at the Ukrainian port of Odesa. It was unclear whether the ship was deliberately targeted or who fired the shell, and the vessel is heading under its own power to the closest port for a damage assessment.
Unconfirmed reports also indicate that two vessels have been detained by the Russian Navy in proximity to Snake Island, whilst sailing in Romanian waters.
A statement by the Ukrainian government says that following the announcement of a “counter-terrorist operation” in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, Russian navy vessels have captured two Ukrainian civilian vessels.
The statement identifies the first vessel as the Ukrainian flagged Athena, which was reportedly sailing in Romanian waters when, 22nm off Snake Island, she received a command to approach a Russian warship for inspection. The shipowner of the Athena immediately informed all the competent authorities in Ukraine.
Another ship is believed to have been detained after a sharp and illogical change of course was recorded. The Ukrainian flagged Princess Nicole’s AIS data was also showing a course towards Snake Island.
When both civilian vessels approached the Russian warships, their AIS were turned off and communication stopped, according to Dryad Global. AIS data indicates they are now staying 18nm off the coast of Crimea.
The vessels are believed to have 50 civilians on board, as well as thousands of tons of diesel fuel and grain.
Earlier this weekend, France intercepted and impounded a Russian-flagged cargo ship suspected of breaching sanctions.
The ship, the Baltic Leader, was heading from the north-western French city of Rouen to St Petersburg in Russia with a cargo of new cars, according to the BBC.
It is being held at the Channel port of Boulogne.
Russian state media say the vessel is owned by a subsidiary of a bank targeted in recent EU and US sanctions.
The US Treasury Department has issued blocking sanctions against the vessel, saying it is owned by a subsidiary of Promsvyazbank, one of the Russian financial institutions hit by sanctions.
However, the bank has said it no longer owns the Baltic Leader. It told Reuters news agency that the ship was sold to another firm before the sanctions were imposed.
French officials said they were checking whether the vessel was linked to Russian financial interests and that the crew were “being co-operative”.
#stoprussia
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022
Міністерство інфраструктури України повідомляє: агресор обстріляв 2️⃣ іноземні судна біля порту Південний ➡️ https://t.co/daJ5Iqx0mZ pic.twitter.com/lXjKK9Ipwo
