Ukraine/Russia. Exclusive: cargo ships and sailors hostages of the war

20 Apr 2022

August 2, 2022 update: detailed information on bulk carriers leaving or approaching the ukrainian ports in the context of the international agreement on the freedom of trade in grain and other agri-food products from Ukraine linked https://robindesbois.org/en/ukraine-robin-des-bois-veille-aux-grains/

93 merchant ships are trapped in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Transit would risk exposing them to bombing, torpedoing and underwater mining, therefore they are stuck at berth. 81% of the ships docked between February 17th and 23rd arrived at the ports on the eve of the outbreak of the war.

For the 1,200 to 1,500 seamen held hostages, there is no humanitarian convoy. Most of them have been on board for several months under long-term contracts and in a Covid context where crew changes were slowed down or prevented by health and vaccination constraints. The seafarers may be African, Indian, Burmese, Filipino, Indonesian, Chinese, Turkish or nationals of European Union countries bordering the Black Sea. Some Filipino seamen would have been exfiltrated and repatriated. The solidarity that is most often shown towards abandoned crews cannot be mobilized in these circumstances. Manning agencies, many of which are based in Odessa, are bankrupt and unpaid salaries can subject entire families into misery.

Some ships may have Ukrainian as well as Russian crewmen.

As already observed by Robin des Bois, several ships operating exclusively in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea fly lowest-ranked flags such as those of Tanzania, Cameroon, Belize, Palau and would not be accepted in European ports on the Atlantic coast. They should have been scrapped many years ago.

 

Map of the sunken ships and cargo ships stuck in the Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov since February 24th, 2022.
Click to enlarge

 

SUNKEN SHIPS

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
9102899 Azburg General cargo carrier Domenica 130 27 years
8402589 Helt General cargo carrier Panama 79 37 years
7392610 Millenial Spirit Tanker Moldova 77 48 years
Moskva Cruiser Russia 186 39 years
Saratov Landing ship Russia 113 56 years

 

Freyja now Millenial Spirit © Joop Klaasman

Millenial Spirit, off Yuzhny, February 24, 2022. Human toll : 2 injured © Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

Helt © Hannes van Rijn

Helt off Odessa, April 3, 2022. The crew was safe. Source : image Twitter

 

Azburg © Marcel Ruud Coster

Azburg, docked in Mariupol, April 3, 2022. The crew was safe. © Black Sea News

Alligator-class landing ship © Marine Nationale

Berdyansk, March 24, 2022. Left, the general cargo carrier Rusen Mete, in the center the Alligator-class Saratov on fire and ahead of her another landing ship of the Ropucha-class escaping. Unknown human toll Source : Twitter-capture d’écran

Slava now Moskva © Marine Nationale

Moskva, 150 km off Odessa, April 14, 2022. Crew : about 500. Unknown human toll. Source : Twitter

The removal of sunken ships and in particular of the Moskva, whose wreck lies at a depth of 200 meters, is crucial. The 3 civilian ships and the 2 warships sunk are old and full of asbestos, PCBs and lead. The metallic antifouling paints of the Moskva and ammunition on board that contain many hazardous materials will migrate over the months and pollute the Black Sea even more. In the immediate future, oil spills are unavoidable both in the Sea of Azov and in the Black Sea. Even after the end of war and beyond the conflict zone, fish, birds, dolphins, and fishermen will still suffer from it.

 

 

 

MARIUPOL

Around 2,500 cargo ships per year. Annual shipments: 17 million tons. Grain, iron, ore, and coal. Average depth: 8 meters. Vessels’ maximum length: 250 meters.

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
9387748 Azov Concord General cargo carrier Malta 141 14 years
9375159 Blue Star I General cargo carrier Panama 96 17 years
9163568 Lady Augusta General cargo carrier Jamaica 105 24 years
9396567 Smarta Bulker Liberia 148 15 years
9145231 Tzarevna Bulker Malta 168

18 years

Azov Concord © Evgeniy

Blue Star I © Olaf K.

Lady Augusta © Babur Halulu

Smarta © Carlos Somorrostro

Tzarevna © Olaf K.

 

BERDYANSK

In the hinterland of Zaporijia. Main shipments: oil products, grain (1.5 million de tons/year), and containers. The port is occupied by the Russian navy. The Saratov suffered a fire and an explosion on March 24th, 2022.

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
8516835 Rusen Mete General cargo carrier Sierra Leone 125 34 years

 

Rusen Mete © Benjamin Marfil

Left, the Rusen Mete in Berdyansk, March 24th, 2022. Source : Twitter-capture d’écran

 

KHERSON

Dniepr estuary. Main shipments: fertilizers, chemicals, grain, wood and peat, and metal.

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
8228036 Alfa Orionis General cargo carrier Comoros 114 38 years
8520824 Amadore Bulker Malta 143 35 years
8958980 Dneprovets 3 General cargo carrier Ukraine 87 33 years
8935263 Dneprovets 5 General cargo carrier Ukraine 89 32 years
9071636 Ferahnaz General cargo carrier Vanuatu 94 27 years
8512047 Kuruoglu 3 General cargo carrier Turkey 109 32 years
8888874 Oltenitsa General cargo carrier Ukraine 135 34 years
8856261 Palladiy General cargo carrier Comoros 139 38 years
9229879 Rek Noble Bulker Panama 155 20 years
9368601 Rhine River General cargo carrier Panama 122 15 years
9414735 Sabrina General cargo carrier Liberia 128 16 years
8314885 Sea Lord General cargo carrier Belize 145 36 years
8728036 Selim General cargo carrier Tanzania 114 43 years
8841541 Slavutich-15 General cargo carrier Ukraine 109 32 years
7942128 Steel Cougar General cargo carrier Panama 114 42 years
7920364 Tuzla General cargo carrier Vanuatu 86 42 years

 

Alfa Orionis © Omer Kabakcioglu

Amadore © Olaf K.

Dneprovets 3 © Paul Ionescu

Dneprovets 5 © Nestin

Ferahnaz © Dennis Mortimer

Kuruoglu 3 © Juandof

Oltenitsa © Maksim-DNP

Palladiy © Babur Halulu

Rek Noble © Airdrone RO

Rhine River © Babur Halulu

Sabrina © Frank Behrends

Sea Lord © Manuel Hernandez Lafuente

Selim © Babur Halulu

Slavutich-15 © Yevgeniy 10

Steel Cougar © Jpgmarine

Tuzla © Nolas MarineTraffic

 

MYKOLAIV

Access channel: 11 meters deep. Annual shipments: around 10 million tons. Coal, iron, fertilizers, grain, and oil products. Military and civilian shipbuilding yards. Construction of the Potemkin and the Slava, now renamed Moskva which sank offshore on April 14th, 2022.

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
9193707 Alby Liberty Bulker Panama 186 22 years
9224843 Araya Bulker Malta 170 21 years
9793832 Banglar Samridhi Bulker Bangladesh 180 4 years
9691632 Bolten Ithaki Bulker Marshall Islands 180 8 years
9301342 Cengiz Bey General cargo carrier St Vincent and the Grenadines 115 18 years
9154012 Chariana L Bulker Marshall Islands 190 25 years
8958978 Dneprovets 2 General cargo carrier Ukraine 87 34 years
9185853 Dong Fu Shan Tanker China 148 23 years
9558153 Filia Joy Bulker Panama 190 13 years
8117847 Haci Emine Ana General cargo carrier Palau 118 38 years
9389502 Harald Maersk Tanker Danemark 180 13 years
9512161 Ithaca Prospect Bulker Panama 171 13 years
9427392 Mallard S Bulker Liberia 157 12 years
9464534 Marika Bulker Liberia 169 14 years
8418758 Maryland Bulker Liberia 180 30 years
9314911 MTM Rio Grande Tanker Singapore 183 15 years
9129627 New Challenge Bulker Belize 163 26 years
9561899 Oceanic Island Bulker Malta 171 12 years
9353072 Orion S General cargo carrier Palau 140 17 years
9288540 Panda Bulker Panama 171 18 years
8311522 Skymoon 1 General cargo carrier Moldavia 82 38 years
9774707 Spring Ploeg Tanker Cayman Islands 146 5 years
9917490 Star Pavlina Bulker Liberia 229 1 year
9370135 Sun Aquamarine General cargo carrier Marshall Islands 177 14 years
9416056 TRF Miami Tanker Marshall Islands 147 14 years
8711772 Vostochnyy Tanker Ukraine 78 34 years
8213732 Zeybek General cargo carrier Moldova 106 38 years

 

Alby Liberty © Krzysztof Kost

Araya © Rossinimauro

Banglar Samriddhi © Cengiz Tokgoz

Bolten Ithaki © DiFoo

Cengiz Bey © Christophe Dedieu

Chariana L © Russell Judge

Dneprovets 2 © Maksim DNP

Dong Fu Shan © Hannes van Rijn

Filia Joy © Wil Weijsters

Haci Emine Ana © Vladimir Knyaz

Harald Maersk © Marcus S.

Ithaca Prospect © Edson de Lima Lucas

Mallard S © Deniz Sedef

Marika © Maxi-Alonso

Maryland © Frank Behrends

MTM Rio Grande © SGshipspotter

New Challenge © Martin Klingsick

Oceanic Island © Victor Radio74

Orion S © Sinisa Aljinovic

Panda © Alexander Demin

Skymoon 1 © Mladen Orlic

Spring Ploeg © Det

Star Pavlina © Alkyon

Sun Aquamarine © Bevaldia Diving Services

TRF Miami © Marcel et Ruud Coster

Vostochnyy © Marcus Ships

Zeybek © Sirotencu Liviu

 

 

YUZHNY

The deepest port in Ukraine (14.5 meters). Main shipments: ammonium nitrate, methanol, urea, grain, and coal (5 million tons/year).

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
9231286 Bonita Bulker Liberia 225 21 years
9497842 Filia Glory Bulker Panama 190 11 years
9737149 Global Aglaia General cargo carrier Marshall Islands 180 6 years
9581239 Maran Astronomer Bulker Greece 292 10 years
9703241 Maran Excellence Bulker Malta 292 6 years
9711937 Nord Virgo Bulker Panama 229 8 years
9465198 Ocean Courtesy Bulker Marshall Islands 292 14 years
9497000 Sacura Bulker Liberia 139 11 years
9328936 Star Laura Bulker Marshall Islands 229 16 years

 

Bonita © Modersitzki

Filia Glory © John White

Global Aglaia © Rick Voice

Maran Astronomer © Willem Oldenburg

Maran Excellence © Bengt Rune Inberg

Nord Virgo © Willem Oldenburg

Ocean Courtesy © Shinagawa Masao

Sacura, ex-MBC Rose © Hannes van Rijn

Star Laura © Iwan Afwan

 

ODESSA

The first Ukrainian commercial port. Depth: 13 meters/12 meters. Oil terminal (12 meters deep / tankers up to 250 meters in length). Oil storage capacity: 700,000 m3. Grain terminal (3.5 million tons/year). 671,000 containers in 2021.

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
9146106 Comet Bulker Liberia 113 25 years
9605243 Joseph Schulte Container ship Hong Kong 300 9 years
9005895 Kapten Sevdet General cargo carrier Turkey 81 30 years
9590979 Navi Star Bulker Panama 180 11 years
9310757 Polarstar Bulker Liberia 177 16 years
9748265 Puma Bulker Cayman Islands 180 5 years
9086526 Razoni Bulker Sierra Leone 187 26 years
9301196 Riva Wind Bulker Marshall Islands 190 17 years
9194464 Sea Luck Bulker Panama 134 23 years

 

Comet © Trygve Eriksen

Joseph Schulte © Ahmet Unlugil

Kaptan Cevde © Frank Behrends

Navi Star © Piet-Sinke

Polarstar © Malcolm Cranfield

Puma © Gena Anfimov

Razoni © Cengiz Tokgoz

Riva Wind © Dario Bonazza

Sea Luck © Babur Halulu

 

CHORNOMORSK

The second commercial port. Main shipments: oil products, sunflower oil export, and tropical oil import.

 

IMO Ship Category Flag Length (m) Age
8227783 Afanasiy Matyushenko General cargo carrier Ukraine 114 38 years
9592733 Arizona Bulker Liberia 190 12 years
8611984 Cenk Car Car carrier Malta 95 36 years
7382366 Cenk M Ro Ro Comoros 168 47 years
9608415 Da Liang General cargo carrier China 180 8 years
9218387 Emmakris III Bulker Panama 225 22 years
9288473 Glory Bulker Marshall Islands 225 17 years
8311912 Greifswald Passenger Ro Ro Panama 191 33 years
8914697 I Maria Bulker Belize 181 31 years
8311924 Kaunas Passenger Ro Ro Panama 191 33 years
9512317 Key Knight Bulker Liberia 229 10 years
9453614 Meroving General cargo carrier Malta 140 13 years
9736690 Mustafa Necati Chemical tanker Liberia 140 7 years
9296248 Ocean Lion Bulker Liberia 225 17 years
9758961 Polarnet General cargo carrier Turkey 136 6 years
9133757 Propus General cargo carrier Panama 126 25 years
8604228 Punta Nera Tanker Cameroon 52 36 years
9550852 Rahmi Yagc General cargo carrier Turkey 110 3 months
9318400 Ramus General cargo carrier Cook Islands 100 17 years
9754927 Rojen Bulker Malta 185 3 years
9317145 S Breeze Bulker Liberia 190 16 years
8133578 Sormovskiy-121 General cargo carrier Belize 114 40 years
9361213 Star Helena Bulker Marshall Islands 229 16 years
9400588 Thoe Bulker Marshall Islands 136 16 years
8623999 Vasiliy Bozhenko General cargo carrier Ukraine 114 38 years
8230962 Volgoneft-268 Tanker Cameroon 132 43 years

 

Afanasiy Matyushenko © Andrew Magri

Arizona © Igor-Dilo

Cenk Car © Vovashap

Cenk M © Sawa Muratov

Da Liang © Dedge

Emmakris III © Evgeniy

Glory © C. Michell

Greifswald © Frank Behrends

I Maria © Chris Stuart

Kaunas © Goksel Basturk

Key Knight © Joseph Collinson

Meroving © Evgenii-10

Mustafa Necati © Olaf K

Ocean Lion © Foggy

Polarnet © Ferdi Kandemir

Propus © Vazee

Punta Nera © Carlo Martinelli

Rahmi Yagc © PGE Denizcilik

Ramus © Babur Halulu

Rojen © Martin Palardy

S Breeze © Erwin Willemse

Sormovskiy-121 © S. Melnikov

Star Helena © Phil Gilston

Thoe © Evgeniy

Vasiliy Bozhenko © Maksim.dnp

Volgoneft-268 © Alex F.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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