UK toughens sanctions against Russian “shadow fleet” and issues call to action on maritime safety
On 18 July 2024, the UK Government added 11 ships to the Russia sanctions regime, targeting vessels that support the Russian oil trade and attempt to circumvent sanctions. This is part of a strategy aimed at curtailing the Kremlin’s exports of crude oil by directly targeting individual oil tankers with sanctions in addition to imposing sanctions on the companies that own or operate these vessels. The UK Government only acquired the power to impose sanctions directly on ships, rather than their owners or managers, in May 2024 under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024.
These specified ships, part of the Russian so-called “dark fleet” or “shadow fleet” are:
- Rocky Runner
- Dynamik Trader
- Fighter Two
- SCF Amur
- SCF Pechora
- Zaliv Amurskiy
- NS Lotus
- NS Commander
- Adygeya
- Kolorev Prospect
- Primorsky Prospect
In addition to the carrying of oil or oil products from Russia to a third country, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has claimed that some of the ships in the Russian shadow fleet are suspected of operating as surveillance stations, while others were believed to be involved in arms shipments to Russia.
The shadow fleet: A call to action
The UK has taken greater steps to endorse the International Maritime Organization’s Resolution A,1192(33), which urged its member states to prevent illegal operations in the maritime industry. On 19 July 2024, the UK Government issued a policy paper titled "The 'Shadow Fleet': A Call to Action," addressing the threats posed by Russia's shadow fleet. This fleet comprises uninsured, poorly maintained ships engaging in illegal operations to circumvent sanctions and violate safety and environmental standards and regulations.
Key points include:
- The shadow fleet endangers maritime safety, environmental security, and the integrity of international seaborne trade.
- Many ships in this fleet operate without insurance and fail to comply with international regulations.
- The UK has called for stricter enforcement of safety, liability, and environmental rules across the maritime industry.
The policy paper highlights the need for coordinated international action:
- Flag States should ensure ships flying their flag adhere to high safety and pollution prevention standards.
- Port States must enforce safety and liability conventions, especially for ship-to-ship transfer operations, and to ensure that ships have valid State certificates of insurance on board.
- Maritime stakeholders such as ship owners, operators, insurers, and brokers are urged to comply with regulations and support the detection and reporting of shadow fleet activities.
This call to action has been endorsed by numerous countries and the European Union, reflecting a collective commitment to mitigating the risks posed by the shadow fleet and ensuring compliance with international maritime law.
The Policy paper can be found here.
The UK Government’s press release, here.
