Thousands of Ukrainian seafarers may be left without jobs, — MTWTUU
20.01.2026 - 17:20
The Ukrainian Maritime Transport Workers’ Union appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine regarding the inadmissibility of creating additional barriers for Ukrainian seafarers.
This is stated in an official letter from the Trade Union of Maritime Transport Workers of Ukraine and the Federation of Transport Workers’ Unions of Ukraine.
Thus, the trade unions appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, with an appeal to prevent the creation of additional barriers for Ukrainian seafarers’ access to work in conditions of a full-scale war.
The basis for the appeal was the decision of the Shipping Administration on the need for all seafarers to undergo new or additional safety training in connection with the entry into force on January 1, 2026 of amendments to the Code on Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, introduced by Resolution MSC.560 (108) of the International Maritime Organization of May 23, 2024.
The Shipping Administration’s statement states that current safety training certificates remain valid only if they undergo additional training.
“This could actually lead to job losses for thousands of Ukrainian seafarers.
In December 2025, the Ukrainian Maritime Safety and Security Union (USMSU) already appealed to the Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine on this issue. However, as of today, it has not been possible to resolve the situation in a working order,” the USMSU noted.
At the same time, the trade union emphasizes that international experience and the experience of EU countries demonstrate a different approach. In particular, in Croatia, all certificates issued before December 31, 2025, remain valid for the entire period of their validity without additional requirements. Verification of seafarers’ knowledge of the new standards is carried out there during the scheduled update of documents.
As previously reported by USM, Ukrainian seafarers will be required to undergo additional safety training. The changes introduced by the IMO resolution include mandatory competencies to combat violence, harassment and bullying on board.
