The EU is tightening sanctions against Russia and is once again targeting the shadow fleet with punitive measures.
The EU states have agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia, which will come into force on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine next Monday. This also affects shipping.
Under the sanctions rules against the so-called Russian shadow fleet, captains and owners of ships may also be subject to punitive measures in future. The ships in question are used, for example, to circumvent the Western price cap for Russian oil exports to third countries or to transport grain stolen from Ukraine. There are also fears that they will be used to sabotage data cables in the Baltic and North Sea in the future.
According to the information, a further 73 ships are to be blacklisted. This brings the total number to more than 150. 270 suspicious tankers are listed together with the USA and the UK.
Captains and owners sanctioned by the EU will also no longer be allowed to enter the EU. Assets held in the EU can also be frozen.
In the fight against the activities of the Russian shadow fleet, the EU had already banned almost 80 ships from entering ports and prohibited companies from offering them services in the course of last year. With the new round of sanctions, more than 70 are now to be added. There are also plans to ban transactions with ports and airports in Russia that play a role in circumventing the oil price cap.
