On September 17, in Gdynia, Poland, under the auspices of powerful European shipping companies, a working conference “Seafarers market in the face of warfare” was held, which was attended not only by representatives of the maritime business, but also by inspectors of international organizations such as IMO and ILO, by officials of the Polish Maritime Office in Gdynia, the leadership of the Gdynia Maritime University and the Polish Naval Academy of the Heroes of Westerplatte.
Dr Borys Babin, the expert of our Association, Dr. Yuriy Voloshyn, the dean of the faculty of the National Aviation University, as well as the leadership of the Ukrainian Independent Maritime Trade Union took an active personal part in the working conference at the invitation of its organizers.
During his speech and rich conversation with the event participants, Professor Babin emphasized the importance of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and discussed the challenges, created by Russian maritime aggression for merchant shipping and for Ukrainian sailors under the conditions of large-scale military operations and the occupation of a number of coastal regions of Ukraine, including the Crimea.
The event also discussed forms of practical counteraction to Russian illegal actions at sea, which already today constitute systemic risks and challenges for the Baltic countries.
Professor Babin reminded the participants of the event on the progress made by our Association and the Ukrainian Independent Maritime Trade Union regarding the exclusion of the Russian register in 2022 from the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), the suspension of Russia’s membership in the Paris Memorandum of Port State Control from 2022, the exclusion of Russia in 2023-2024 from the Danube Commission, non-election of Russia to the IMO Council, etc.
The results of the two-year monitoring and reporting on Russian aggression in the Azov and Black Seas in accordance with IMO Council Resolution C/ES.35 of 2022 and the subsequent IMO Assembly Resolution A.1183(33) of 2023 were outlined.
During his speech and communication with the participants of the event, Professor Voloshyn emphasized the role of educational and scientific institutions of Ukraine in the training of personnel in the field of both merchant shipping and crewing and manning activities and noted both the challenges in this field caused by Russian aggression and the achievements of Ukrainian universities.
