ILWU members across British Columbia stand with Ukraine

Prince Rupert's Fairview Terminal is just one of a number maritime
facilities  along the BC Coast hat are now part of a total ban on Russian vessels
in response to that country attack on Ukraine
(photo from PRPA library)

Harbour watchers won't be seeing any Russian flagged vessels or Russian products making their way through the Port of Prince Rupert for what could be a very long time. 

That as both the Union which represents port workers and Canadian government work to send a strong message to the Russian President Vladimir Putin, that his violence on the Ukrainian people must end.

This week the Members of the International Longshore Workers Union, who work the docks in Prince Rupert as well as along the BC coast  took a stand against the continued Russian aggression towards Ukraine. 

With the ILWU issuing a notice on Monday that ILWU Canada had put a ban in place that will see its membership refuse to work any Russian vessels and cargo coming into the Ports of British Columbia. 

The correspondence which was addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also called on Canada to issue a ban for all Russian owned, Russian Flagged and Russian Chartered vessels, with the exception of any marine safety incidents, though they observed that too should be addressed with caution.

As events evolved, that suggestion was already in the works by the Federal government, with a Tuesday announcement from Omar Alghabra  the Minister of Transport, who declared the Canadian ban on Russian Maritime Traffic through the Special Economic Measures Act.

“Russia must be held accountable for its aggression in Ukraine. Canada will continue to do what is necessary to respond. Today, we are taking steps to close Canadian ports and internal waters to Russian-owned or registered ships. The Government of Canada condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and we will continue to take action to stand with Ukraine.”  -- Omar Alghabra,Minister of Transport

The Canadian moves on shipping, is just one element of a global effort of sanctions, bans and other measures to address the invasion and ongoing attack on the nation of Ukraine, with more measures announced each day that the Russian forces remain on Ukrainian soil.

More notes on shipping through the Port of Prince Rupert can be reviewed through our archive page here.