Ukraine war causing shipping turmoil

LAST week's column looked at the effect of war in Ukraine on the world's seafarers. Their welfare must continue to be top priority. That is not only because it is morally right but also, as the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) warned, the economic consequences of not looking after the global industry's workforce would be dire.

It has warned that current supply chain disruption is set to be compounded by a shortfall in the global shipping workforce due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Seafarer Workforce Report, published in 2021 by non-governmental organisation Bimco and the ICS, reported that 1.89 million seafarers are currently operating over 74,000 vessels in the world's merchant fleet.