Ukraine discussed the problem of Ukrainian seamen working on tankers of the “shadow fleet”

The Shipping Administration held a meeting on the employment of Ukrainian seafarers on ships of the so-called “shadow fleet”.

The online meeting was held with the participation of representatives of trade unions, crewing companies, seafarers and public organizations, the Shipping Administration reports.

“All participants had the opportunity to openly discuss current issues and share their opinions. The meeting began with a discussion of the situation regarding the employment of Ukrainian seafarers on ships of the so-called “shadow fleet”. They analyzed the two latest cases of detention of such ships with Ukrainian citizens on board. These examples once again confirm the presence of serious legal, security and reputational risks for seafarers,” the report says.

All participants agreed that an important practical tool is seafarers’ access to verified information about sanctioned ships and companies.

The Shipping Administration noted that it has already focused its efforts on working on this issue, and the relevant information will be available on the official website in the near future.

At the same time, today seafarers can independently check vessels and related entities on the official resources of the State Register of Sanctions of the Defense Intelligence of the MoD of Ukraine and the State Register of Sanctions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, which allows them to make informed decisions regarding employment.

Separately, the idea of ​​creating a permanent working group with the participation of all interested parties was discussed – for consultations, exchange of information and support for seafarers.

Also, one of the key topics was the issue of the validity periods of certificates (Basic Safety Certificate).

“Please note: all certificates issued before 01.01.2026 remain valid for the entire period for which they were issued. You can check the validity of the qualification document by following the link,” the Administration emphasized.

In particular, the department reported that, taking into account the amendments to the Code on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCC) adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.560(108) of May 23, 2024, which entered into force on January 1, 2026, as of today, some training institutions have already brought their training programs into line with changes in international legislation.

The list of training institutions that have approved training programs taking into account the aforementioned amendments can be found at the link.

As of today, seafarers have the opportunity to undergo training/retraining in the relevant areas in all approved training institutions.

Earlier, USM reported that, according to the MTWTUU, thousands of Ukrainian seafarers may be left without a job. The trade union and the Union appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine regarding the inadmissibility of creating additional barriers for Ukrainian seafarers.