- Tanker attacked at Nika Tera Port, Nikolayev.
On 03/05/2022 tanker MTM RIO GRANDE (IMO No. 9314911, Flag: Singapore) sustained hit while her stay at Nika Tera Port, Nikolayev. The vessel arrived before start of the war for loading sunflower oil. On the said date Russian forces held attacks along the whole coastline and most probably the vessel was damaged by cluster shell. No crew injuries reported.
- Rocket and mining danger at the Black Sea.
*As of 04/05/2022 there were 3 Russian warships armed with about 20 cruise missiles "Caliber" at the Black Sea. Russian naval groups continue missile strikes, blockade the coast, and conduct reconnaissance.
*One more mine floated onto surface at the Black Sea coast, this time in Zatoka, Bilgorod-Dnistrovskiy District of Odessa Region. The mine was safely liquidated by controlled detonation.
- Third attack on the bridge in Odessa Region.
After 2 attacks on 26 & 27/04/2022, the bridge crossing the Dniester Estuary in the Odessa region was attacked with rocket strike for the third time on 02/05/2022.
The bridge is closed for exploitation.
- Seafarers' crisis.
*Starting from the beginning of the war about 1500 seafarers were evacuated, but around 500 seafarers are still stuck on the vessels at the Ukrainian ports. They can't leave as the minimum safety manning certificate requirements are to be complied with.
But due to regular attacks from the Russian side seafarers' stay at Ukrainian ports is considered to be dangerous. International organizations, in particular ICS and UN, call for evacuation of remained crew.
*Statistics says that number of Russian seafarers takes the second place in the world (~198000), number of Ukrainian seafarers takes the sixth (~47000).
Seafarers of both nationalities face difficulties with employment due to strengthening of sanctions and difficulties with the crew change, respectively.
Ukrainian seafarers can't leave motherland in case they are of military age and do not fall under number of exclusions, also repatriation home is complicated by non-operation of Ukrainian airports, thus need of complex land transport arrangements arises.
Among the problems encountered by the Russian seafarers are lack of civilian flights to Russian airports & cancelled international payment systems in Russia which affects transfer of wages.
Due to above the shipowners are planning to increase number of crew from another countries, in particular Philippines and India.