Oleg Luchaninov, a Ukrainian master, urged the international community to help his war-stricken country’s seafarers cope.
“I had a quiet life, family, work, salary — we had no issue,” he told the TradeWinds Shipowners Forum on Tuesday.
But everything changed after the war broke out in his country on 24 February. “I was totally shocked, confused, worried I would lose my job and can’t return to work”.
Ukrainian seafarers are “always under stress, always thinking about our families being safe”.
“I ask the entire maritime community to make efforts to provide safe heavens for Ukrainian seafarers and their families,” Luchaninov said.
Benefitting from an assistance programme by Technomar, the Greek shipping company he works for, Luchaninov's family found shelter in Greece.
Technomar started bringing Ukrainian seafarers’ into Greece in early March.
Responding to the concerns of its crew members, the company covered travel costs, arranged for one-year visas and paid six months’ rent upfront for about 30 hotel apartments.
Since then, about 100 refugees have gathered, forming a small Ukrainian community in its own right in Evia, central Greece.
The choice of location at Pefki — a seaside resort — makes it a little easier for the refugees to adjust, as they all come from the southern coast of Ukraine.
The area was ravaged by forest fires last summer and hotel owners and shopkeepers there are particularly pleased to see outsiders spending some money.
