By Emma Farge

GENEVA, (Reuters) – Some of the approximately 1,000 Ukrainian seafarers who were trapped there have escaped. Officials from the International Labour Organization and the industry told Reuters that some had escaped. However, they expressed concern about those still trapped aboard ships and unaccounted for.

Several foreign cargo ships have been struck by crossfire in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24 and U.N. agencies have called for urgent action https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_841806/lang–en/index.htm to protect some 1,000 seafarers, including in the besieged port city of Mariupol that has been under bombardment for weeks.

An estimated 100 vessels have been prevented from departing because of risks of drifting sea mines https://shipping.nato.int/nsc/operations/news/-2022/risk-of-collateral-damage-in-the-north-western-black-sea-2, industry sources say.

Fabrizio Barbona, coordinator of the Seafarers Section at the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), stated that the vast majority of seafarers from more than 20 countries, including India, Syria and Egypt, Turkey, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Ukraine, have left. They are now traveling by land to Poland and Romania.

The source of information cited by the Philippine government said that many seafarers had fled to the Philippines. According to the Philippine Labour Ministry 371 were repatriated while 68 resumed their work in Ukraine. Some 15 others remained.

“A small number (of the estimated 1,000) remain stranded and unable to return home due to the ongoing threat of potential military crossfire,” Barcellona said.

A spokesperson for the ILO stated in an email that there were some seafarers still on board their ships. They could hear shellfire but did not give details. Some had disembarked while others were protected by the Ukrainian army.

Russia claimed Wednesday that it took control of Mariupol’s port trading and freed “hostages” from ships.

Dominica maritime authorities sent a communication to members of the International Maritime Organization on April 11. It was about their ship, which sank in Mariupol. The letter stated that its crew were hiding on other vessels under “an immense amount and intense fear and despair.”

Barcellona stated that the ITF (which represents around 200 seafarers’ unions) had sought to create “blue corridors”, safe passageways, but it was impossible because of mines.

International Committee of the Red Cross called on all sides to the conflict for civilians (including commercial crews) to be allowed to leave. It also stated that it would bring this up with the authorities.