A Ukrainian crew member who was trapped in the country when war broke out wants his nation to maintain its huge presence in crewing worldwide.
One year after Russia’s invasion, the young seafarer, writing anonymously for TradeWinds, said he remains motivated to pursue his career at sea.
“As always, I see many opportunities and am always improving my skills,” the crew member said.
“Ukrainians are [among] the best seafarers in the industry and this situation only gives us bigger and bigger motivation to protect this status. As our warriors protect our land, we too should keep the bar high.”
The young seafarer was on shore leave at his flat near Kherson airport when the war broke out.
He was stuck under Russian occupancy for three months with his mother, grandfather and sick grandmother, while his father was at sea.
The family sheltered in a basement, but the crew member later managed to escape the country and return to sea.
“From 5am, after I heard the first blasts at the airport, I understood that something bad was happening,” he said. “Me, my mother, grandfather and grandmother decided to stay in the city, because grandma had been very sick and we couldn’t leave anybody in this situation. We stuck together and spent some days in a basement.”
He remembers young men being in danger of kidnapping for future military mobilisation.
“So I decided to leave my home and cross the border with Crimea to get a chance of joining a vessel,” he said. “At the end of May, I joined a vessel. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away during my contract.”
Complicated travel
His relatives were under occupation for nine months before Kherson was liberated, but have now moved to a safer area within Ukraine.
“We are lucky that my father signed a contract and joined a vessel one week before the invasion. After our contracts, we both met up in Georgia.
“I left my hometown and am still living abroad, because here I can easily go on board a vessel – the process of leaving Ukraine for a contract is still very complicated.
Seeking a contract
“My father is still working ... and currently on board. We are also working ... to find a vessel for me at this moment.
“Plenty of valuable things have been done already for seafarers and their families. In addition, I think that if it were possible to continue prolonging seafarers’ documents for those Ukrainians who are abroad, this would be the greatest help for Ukrainian mariners,” the seafarer said.
“I look forward to when the war will end and everyone will meet their families again, go back home and live their lives in peace and safety. I would also like all the people who are to blame for this terrible war to pay for all their crimes and the impact on the lives of Ukrainian people.”
