Seafarers and war

Seafarers and war
Ambassador Carlos Salinas March 16, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/16/business/maritime/seafarers-and-w...

LAST February 24, President Vladimir Putin of Russia ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, millions of people have fled their homes and thousands have been killed.

The Philippines has spoken against what it considers an "invasion" of Ukraine and voted to support a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) condemning Russia's aggression.

The resolution, supported by more than 90 countries, demands that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

What does this have to do with us, who live more than 9,000 kilometers from Ukraine, a geographic distance that should make us feel safe?

George Bernard Shaw gives one reason: "We are members one of another so that you cannot injure or help your neighbor without injuring or helping yourself."

In this globalized world, where countries' economies, cultures and populations have become increasingly interdependent, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, the world is more connected than ever. Globalization is driven by technology, transportation, and international cooperation.

Shipping, as a component of transportation, is the lifeblood of the global economy, and the seafarers play an important role in keeping the flow of global supply and demand going. Thus, we should not feel insulated from any conflict that happens in other parts of the world, no matter the distance.

Seafarers are particularly vulnerable when international conflicts arise, as the ships keep on trading no matter what happens. A few days ago, a seafarer was killed at the Ukrainian port of Olvia after his cargo ship was hit by a missile.

Ukrainian maritime officials have estimated that there are around 100 foreign-flagged vessels and hundreds of seafarers stuck in Ukrainian ports because of the conflict.

Thus shipping industry leaders saw it fit to call for safe passage for these hundreds of seafarers and their ships. "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," said Guy Platten, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) therefore called a virtual meeting of council members on March 10 and 11 to discuss the worsening situation and address its impacts on shipping and seafarers. The extraordinary session was convened following requests from several council members to assess and discuss the risks to seafarers and ships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, IMO said.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has made repeated calls to ensure merchant shipping is kept safe during the conflict. "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," the the secretary-general said during the meeting.

Closer to home, we welcome the news from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that a total of 323 Filipinos have already been evacuated from Ukraine as of March 12. Of this number, 173 are already back in the Philippines.

In a briefing, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia reported that about 140 more are about to arrive while more than 200 crew members are still on board, waiting for their repatriation to rescue them from imminent danger.

There are around 229,000 Filipino seafarers onboard merchant shipping vessels around the world at any given time, representing more than 25 percent of 1.5 million seafarers worldwide.

They keep the world economy afloat at enormous risk to their lives, especially during the pandemic and whenever and wherever there is conflict.

So it is a mistake to think that we are not affected by things that happen elsewhere in the world, no matter the distance.We are residents of the same home, the same Planet Earth.

Canadian author Margaret Atwood pointed this out in a recent conversation with English primatologist Jane Goodall. She said, "I suppose both of us would like to achieve the same thing, but I don't consider it any one person's legacy.

It's going to have to be a group effort. And that would be to preserve a habitable planet."

There is no Planet B, so goes an urgent call for action from former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Let us work together to make this one safe, free from violence against nature, against humans and all its inhabitants.