The Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Association (FASA) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30^th March 2022.

At the meeting, FASA expressed their concerns over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is having a significant impact on the safety and security of seafarers’ onboard ships in the area, as well as to damages to maritime properties (ships/ports/equipment) affected.

Throughout the pandemic, the world’s 1.9 million seafarers played a vital role in ensuring the continuous flow of critical goods along supply chains, hence keeping the world’s shipping and trade moving.

Just as during the pandemic, merchant ships and seafarers onboard are once again being exposed to dangers through no fault of theirs. We are disheartened to know that ships stuck in the ports in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov are hit by munitions, seafarers have been killed and injured and many more seafarers of all nationalities are trapped. In addition, damage to ports and ships which forms part of logistical chain of international commerce & trade are consequences of being caught in the crossfire or becomes at risks of collateral endangerment. FASA’s role is to support, uphold and serve global trade.

In this regard, FASA echoes the strong sentiments of other international bodies and strongly urges those States with the power to do so, for the immediate cessation of the ongoing conflict and to secure the safety and security of the ships and seafarers trapped in the area, and, where possible, to expedite their evacuation from areas that are threatened by the conflict.