Минулого тижня Голова ПРМТУ Олег Григорюк зустрівся у Брюсселі з Генеральною секретаркою Європейської федерації транспортників (ETF) Лівією Сперою.

During the meeting, he once again raised concerns about the safety of seafarers and Ukrainian port workers, who face constant threats from attacks on civilian shipping and port infrastructure.

Today, ahead of the European Council meeting on 15–16 October, at MTWTU’s initiative, ETF has addressed EU leaders. The Federation calls for the protection of seafarers and port workers to be a key part of discussions on security in the Black Sea.

In its appeal, ETF highlights the consequences of attacks on civilian vessels and ports. According to data released by the Ukrainian Government in September 2026, 1,173 port infrastructure facilities and 274 civilian vessels had been damaged or partially destroyed.

On 3 October, a strike on a merchant vessel in the Odesa region killed one seafarer and injured three others. On 6 October, the merchant vessels ALFA WATAN and ABLE were struck in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. ALFA WATAN sank, and its crew remains missing. All 18 crew members of ABLE were rescued, two of whom sustained serious injuries.

ETF calls for stronger protection for merchant vessels and their crews, continuous search-and-rescue operations, adequate emergency planning for port workers, and guarantees for those working in conditions of serious danger. The ETF also insists that trade unions be involved in decisions concerning high-risk operations and urges the EU and its Member States to restore safe commercial shipping in the Black Sea, protect civilian maritime infrastructure, and investigate attacks on vessels and ports.

“Seafarers, dockworkers and other maritime workers must be able to perform their duties without putting their lives at risk. Protecting these workers, merchant vessels, and port infrastructure in the Black Sea is essential not only for the maritime industry, but also for the stability of international trade and global food security,” MTWTU Chairman Oleg Grygoriuk stressed.

The European Council is expected to discuss further support for Ukraine, attacks linked to russia, and the needs of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure ahead of winter. ETF stresses that civilian crews and port workers must be fully included in the security debate, rather than treated merely as collateral victims of broader discussions on sanctions, energy and trade.