The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has condemned the latest attack on vessels operating in the Black Sea, warning that seafarers must never be treated as targets in conflict and that their safety and rights must be protected at all times.
Reports indicate that a tanker transiting Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone en route to Novorossiysk was struck and disabled by Ukrainian sea drones, in what is believed to be the third such incident in recent weeks involving vessels described as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”.
While the ships involved may be linked to sanctions evasion or wider geopolitical tensions, the ITF stressed that the civilian crews onboard are not participants in conflict. Many are multinational seafarers working under difficult conditions, often with poor pay and weak protections. None of that justifies exposing them to violence. Civilian seafarers must be protected at all times under international law.
“Seafarers are not a weapon of war,” said Mark Dickinson, Vice Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section and General Secretary of Nautilus International. “They are civilians simply doing their jobs, often in extremely difficult and precarious conditions.
“Under the Flag of Convenience system – where shipowners register vessels in countries without a genuine link and therefore weak oversight – many seafarers are recruited from nations where decent job opportunities are scarce. That leaves them with little real power to refuse dangerous voyages, and often without clear information about where a ship is bound or the risks involved.
“Regardless of the flag a vessel flies, the cargo it carries, or the politics surrounding a conflict, targeting seafarers or placing them in harm’s way is completely unacceptable.”
The ITF warned that crews working on vessels without strong regulatory frameworks are often among the most vulnerable in the global shipping industry. Many face heightened exposure to exploitation and unsafe working conditions – risks that are only compounded when conflict spills into commercial shipping routes.
“Many of these seafarers are already working at the sharp end of an industry that too often fails them,” Dickinson said. “That vulnerability cannot be used to excuse violence. No political or military objective justifies endangering civilian crews.”
Since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, the Black Sea has been transformed into an active danger zone for merchant shipping, where civilian seafarers face the real and ongoing threat of mines, drones, and missile strikes.
The ITF reiterated its call on all parties to conflicts to uphold international humanitarian and maritime law, to de-escalate tensions, and to take all necessary steps to safeguard civilian seafarers.
“Seafarers keep global trade moving, even during times of war and crisis,” Dickinson said. “They must not be treated as expendable or as collateral damage. The ITF condemns any attack that harms or endangers seafarers anywhere in the world, and we will continue to speak out until their safety is fully respected.”
The ITF continues to monitor the situation closely and stands ready to support any seafarers affected by incidents in the Black Sea or other conflict-affected waters.
Image credit: REUTERS
