Updated Announcement from The Nautical Institute – Ukraine

A message from our CEO, Captain John Lloyd and our President, Ms Jillian Carson-Jackson

14 March 2022

Updated Announcement from The Nautical Institute – Ukraine

As a non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the IMO, The Nautical Institute was able to join the Emergency Session of the IMO Council as observers in its meeting of March 2022.

We do not take a political view in our decisions but we fully support and endorse the decision at which:

"The [IMO] Council agreed to encourage the establishment, as a provisional and urgent measure, of a blue safe maritime corridor to allow the safe evacuation of seafarers and ships from the high-risk and affected areas in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov" and offer our support to the IMO Council in their statement which:

"Strongly condemned the Russian Federation's violation of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of a United Nations Member State, extending to its territorial waters, which was inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the purposes of IMO as set forth in Article 1 of the Convention, and represents a grave danger to life and serious risk to safety of navigation and the marine environment;"

The Nautical Institute is shocked and saddened by the human suffering that is the result of actions of war in Ukraine. 

The ongoing invasion of Ukraine has led the United Nations to adopt a Resolution which demands that Russia immediately end its military operations in Ukraine.  The resolution, among other aspects, deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and condemns all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.  We join the UN in condemning the ongoing aggression and add our voice to a call for an end to conflict. 

The maritime industry is still working to overcome the challenges of Covid, particularly in terms of crew change and shore leave. The invasion of Ukraine poses a further challenge for many seafarers, with fear for family and friends at home.  We call on all Shipowners, Ship Managers, Flags and Port States to continue to support seafarers and provide guidance and support to ensure seafarers’ rights are respected and they remain safe from harm. 

John Lloyd, CEO, The Nautical Institute                                                                         

Jillian Carson-Jackson, President, The Nautical Institute