With concerns about the safety of seafarers and vessels trapped in Ukraine mounting, European Union governments on Wednesday called on the International Maritime Organization to take immediate action to relieve them.
France, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, is leading the initiative.
Greek shipping minister Yiannis Plakiotakis, who revealed the effort in a statement on his ministry’s website, personally contacted IMO secretary general Kitack Lim to discuss the issue on Wednesday.
