The Cruise Industry Rises Up to Help Ukrainians
Since the month of February of this year, the world has watched in sadness and horror over what is transpiring in the country of Ukraine. Over the course of the Russian Invasion, over 5 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to border countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The European Union has agreed to let Ukrainians stay to work and study up to 3 years. (unhcr.org, 2022) Most agree that more needs to be done to help the people of Ukraine during this terrible time. The cruise industry is stepping up and doing its part to help Ukrainians in need, including companies like MSC Cruises.
Cruise ships are cooperating and doing their best to provide transportation to Ukrainian seafarers that wish to return home to their country of Ukraine. MSC Cruises is among those doing this. Their Ukrainian crew, which number almost 400 seafarers, are able to return before the completion of their contracts if they so desire so that they may be with their loved ones. Those that are still onboard their vessels have access to unlimited free access to Wi-Fi and internet to communicate with their families. (Cruise Industry News, 2022)
Among other cruise lines doing their part to help Ukrainians, the Holland American Group pledged $1 million for an emergency assistance fund to help support their Ukrainian seafarer crew, with the intention to keep raising those funds. (Vanikiotis, 2022) Holland American Line also set up their 10-deck cruise ship, Volendam, as a temporary refuge for over 1,500 Ukrainians. The ship is docked in the Dutch city of Rotterdam and has over 650 seafarers helping the refugees. The ship provides the refugees with 3 meals daily, as well as access to most of the ship’s facilities. (Sampson, 2022)
Costa Cruises is taking refugees as well, offering them shelter in their ship, the Costa Magica. Roger Frizzell the spokesperson for Carnival Corp. to whom Costa Cruise is affiliated, stated in an interview that they offered the ship to the Italian government so that it may be used as a temporary hub for the Ukrainian refugees. Costa Cruises went on to state; "Our thoughts are with the affected people, including the families of our many Ukrainian employees who are understandably concerned for their loved ones." In support of Ukraine, they have donated and sent medical supplies for the injured and ill. (Hines, 2022)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has greatly impacted the crew movement in and out of the country, causing labor shortages in the industry. Many companies are asking to delay rotations and extend contracts to help with future crew shortages.
For those Ukrainian seafarers in MSC Cruises that wish to extend their contract to stay longer, the company is fulfilling that wish. The ITF affiliate from Ukraine, the Union Marine Transport Workers Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU), have said that seafarers from Ukraine can extend their contracts and are highly recommending that they stay on board their ships until it is safe to return to their country. Other employers and Unions have agreed to new protocols as well for Ukrainian seafarers. These new agreements recommend to those seafarers that have completed their term of employment to extend their contracts rather than return home. (SAFETY4SEA, 2022)
With Ukraine still fighting to maintain its freedom and its people either staying, escaping the country, or returning home from abroad, the industry is coming together to do its part to help Ukrainians and accommodating changes to their employment status so that they may continue working longer so that they may stay safe. Every day, new options are being submitted to help in this and protocols industry-wide continue to be updated so that Ukrainian seafarers may get the assistance they need.
Cruise Industry News. (2022, March 28). Cruise Industry Steps Up for Ukrainians. Retrieved from Cruise Industry News: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27094-cruise-industry-steps-up-for-ukrainians.html
Hines, M. (2022, March 23). Costa Cruises offering temporary housing at sea to Ukrainian refugees on Costa Magica ship. Retrieved from USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2022/03/23/carnival-costa-magica-cruise-ukraine-refugees/7140161001/
SAFETY4SEA. (2022, March 8). Ukraine crisis: What is the impact on employment terms. Retrieved from SAFETY4SEA: https://safety4sea.com/ukraine-crisis-what-is-the-impact-on-employment-terms/#:~:text=The%20Ukrainian%20ITF%20affiliate%20%E2%80%93%20Union,to%20return%20to%20the%20Ukraine%E2%80%9D.
Sampson, H. (2022, April 1). Ukrainians in Rotterdam will use a cruise ship as a floating shelter. Retrieved from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/04/01/ukraine-refugees-holland-cruise/
unhcr.org. (2022, April 20). Operational Data Portal: Ukraine Refugee Situation. Retrieved from data2.unhcr.org: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine
Vanikiotis, P. (2022, April 9). Cruise Lines Supporting Ukraine. Retrieved from Global Traveler: https://www.globaltravelerusa.com/blog/cruise-lines-supporting-ukraine/#:~:text=The%20Holland%20America%20Group%20(made,support%20to%20Ukrainian%20team%20members.