Ahead of the European Council meeting on 15–16 October, ETF issued an urgent appeal to EU leaders, calling for concrete action to protect civilian maritime workers, regardless of their nationality. The ETF strongly condemns the continued attacks on merchant vessels and maritime infrastructure, as well as the recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and calls on EU leaders, the European Commission, Member States, and all relevant national and international authorities to act immediately to protect civilian maritime workers and restore safe navigation in the Black Sea.
Civilian crews and port workers should be part of the maritime transport security debate, not treated simply as collateral to wider questions of sanctions, energy and trade. Every seafarer and dock worker is a civilian, not a combatant, and has the right to return home safely.
ETF wants stronger protection for merchant vessels and crews, sustained search-and-rescue efforts, better emergency planning for dock workers and safeguards for workers facing serious danger. It also calls for meaningful involvement of maritime workers' representatives in decisions affecting their safety and working conditions, as well as high-risk operations. Last but not least, it calls on the EU and member countries to restore safe passage for merchant shipping in the Black Sea, protect civilian maritime infrastructure, and investigate attacks on vessels and ports.
ETF Seafarers and ETF Dockers stand united with their Ukrainian colleagues in demanding safe seas, secure ports and the protection of all maritime workers.
Read the full ETF appeal to the European Council here:
