EU blacklists a further 52 ships in latest sanctions crackdown
European Union minsters promise to keep cracking down on Russia’s shadow fleet and combat sanctions circumvention
EU’s 15th package of sanctions confirms largest listing of vessels found to be engaged in high-risk shipping practices when transporting Russian oil or petroleum products, in arms deliveries, grain theft, or supporting the Russian energy sector
THE EU’s Council of Ministers has formally adopted the bloc’s largest sanctions package yet, adding a further 52 dark fleet vessels to its targeted list of blacklisted ships.
The 15th package of sanctions confirmed all of the draft details first reported by Lloyd’s List in November, but with additional ships added since the first draft was circulated among ministers.
The EU has now sanctioned 79 vessels in total.
All ships on the list, which were found to be engaged in high-risk shipping practices when transporting Russian oil or petroleum products, in arms deliveries, grain theft, or supporting the Russian energy sector, are now subject to a port access ban and a ban on provision of services.
This targeted approach by the EU amplifies the recent strategy to increase the cost for Russia to use such vessels.
The measure is intended to target non-EU tankers that are part of Putin’s shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism or supporting the energy sector of Russia, or vessels that are responsible for transporting military equipment for Russia or involved in the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain, a council statement said.
“This package of sanctions is part of our response to weaken Russia’s war machine and those who are enabling this war, also including Chinese companies,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
The new measures, which were adopted on Monday during the first Foreign Affairs Council meeting under the direction of the new commission, primarily targets Russian defence and shipping companies responsible for the transportation of crude oil and oil products by the sea, which the EU argues are providing important revenues to the Russian government.
The sanctions package also, for the first time, imposes fully fledged sanctions on various Chinese actors supplying dual-use goods in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Stricter export restrictions with respect to dual-use goods and technology, and advanced technology items, will now apply to 32 new companies also listed in the package.
“The EU will continue to closely monitor trade of Russian oil shifts and different practices designed to circumvent the oil price cap, both in terms of compliance by G7 operators and operations of the dark fleet,” the council statement said.