UK bans all Russian vessels

The UK has told its ports to restrict access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels, with “prohibiting legislation to follow”.

On Monday 28 February, transport secretary Grant Shapps MP, wrote in a letter to all UK ports: “The maritime sector is fundamental to international trade and we must play our part in restricting Russia’s economic interests and holding the Russian government to account.”

Shapps said that the Department for Transport “does not consider it appropriate for Russian vessels to continue to enter UK ports.”

Under the new instruction, UK ports have been asked not to provide access to any ship which they have reason to believe is owned, controlled, chartered, or operated with any person connected with Russia, or owned, controlled, chartered or operated by ‘designated persons’, or that is flying the Russian flag or registered in Russia.

Shapps called Russia’s attack on Ukraine “an unprovoked, premeditated attack against a sovereign, democratic state” and confirmed further detailed sanctions against Russian shipping were being drawn up.

Just hours after the announcement, Orkney Islands Council said that a planned visit of the Russia-owned oil tanker, NS Champion, had been cancelled. Earlier this week the Orkney Islands Council had said it was powerless to prevent the tanker accessing the Flotta oil facility in Scapa Flow, despite growing local anger.

Orkney Islands Council said yesterday: “There had been growing concern across our organisation and the public on the visit – and significant work went into finding a solution alongside the UK government… We welcomed the announcement this afternoon from the UK government’s secretary of state for transport – this was very much one of the avenues we have been exploring over the last few days. That announcement was followed by news from the ship’s agent that they were cancelling the visit.”