UGS President: Shipping is not a battlefield

The President of the Union of Greek Shipowners has warned against the escalating targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The President of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), Melina Travlou, denounces the fact that commercial shipping and seafarer are once again being unjustly placed at the center of military and hybrid attacks and asymmetric threats posing an immediate risk to human life, the environment and the safety of international navigation.

In her statement, Travlou emphasizes that the targeting of commercial vessels, particularly those of Greek and, by extension, European ownership, that operate lawfully and serve the European Union’s import trade and supply chain “goes beyond every limit of reason, justice, and political consistency” and constitutes a “complete undermining of the European position itself.”

She further stresses that commercial shipping is not a “battlefield” and must not be weaponized as a means of pressure or turned into a target. She makes special reference to seafarers, noting that they are civilians who keep global trade, energy sufficiency and food security alive.

Referring to points she raised at the UN Security Council in May 2025, the President of the Union of Greek Shipowners reiterates that shipping must remain outside geopolitical tensions and military confrontations, underlining that the protection of seafarers and freedom of navigation is not an option, but a fundamental European and international obligation.

Furthermore, Melina Travlou states that Greek shipping has historically served peace, cooperation and stability, and she welcomes the stance of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the minister’s relevant communications with EU authorities and counterparts in other European states.

Finally, she calls on the European Union to act immediately, in a coordinated and decisive manner to protect its shipping, its people and its strategic role in Europe’s prosperity, making it clear that no attack on commercial vessels is acceptable and that “no threat against seafarers can go unanswered.”

Greece warns its fleet over heightened risks and attacks in the Black Sea

Reuters reports that Greece has warned its shipping fleet to upgrade security measures to the highest possible level when sailing to Russian Black Sea ports, following drone attacks on two Greek-operated tankers this week, according to advisories issued by the shipping ministry.

In earlier documents released after the attacks, the ministry recommended that shipping companies’ security managers and Greek-flagged vessels conduct updated threat assessments for ships operating in the Black Sea and nearby maritime areas.

As reported, the recent incidents immediately drove up risk premiums, with war insurance costs for ships traveling to the Black Sea nearly doubling after the Greek-managed tankers were hit by unidentified drones.

“It is recommended that all Greek ships that are either docked or anchored or are about to dock at the terminal in question take the highest possible security measures. These measures include avoiding being outside the ship,” the shipping ministry said in a document released on 15 January and seen by Reuters.

source: safety4sea