News

Conflicts in Ukraine (No.8)

15 April 2022 No.1164

We would like to report the latest updates in Ukraine and Russia. As to the former relative information, please refer to our Japan P&I News No.1162 dated 5 April 2022.

 

Ukraine:

Martial law still has been introduced in Ukraine and there is a curfew. All Ukrainian Ports are closed. Mines were laid into the sea off the ports Odessa region and they were cut off from the equipment. New drifting mines were found in Istanbul Strait last week.

 

Russia:

Russian ports continue their normal operations, but the local correspondents report that the Azov Sea, a North-east area of Black Sea and near to Crimea Bridge are closed for navigation. On 4 April 2022, the Joint War Committee (JWC) added Russia’s waters to its list of areas deemed high risk in addition to Ukrainian and Russian waters in the Azov Sea and Black Sea.

 

Sanctions applied to some of Russian banks by the US, EU and UK. These countries are restricting the sale, supply, transfer or export of military goods, dual-use goods, critical industry goods and technology. The UK is banning port access to Russian-flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered, or operated vessels.

 

On 8 April 2022, the EU adopted a fifth package of sanctions on Russia. In this package, two main prohibitions are added to the fourth package, which was introduced on our Japan P&I News No.1157 dated 18 March 2022. One of the main prohibitions is to purchase, import or transfer coal and other solid fossil fuels into the EU if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia, including in transit. The other prohibition is providing access after 16 April 2022 to ports in the EU to vessels registered under the flag of Russia and to vessels that have changed their Russian flag or registration to the flag or register of other states after 24 February 2022.

 

Japan has been restricting the sale, supply, transfer or export of critical industry goods to Russia. From 19 April 2022, importation of alcohol, woods and machineries from Russia will be banned.

 

Please note that the change of local situation is so unforeseeable, that the above is to be updated accordingly. It is highly recommended for members to check the latest information at the time of vessel’s calling through local agents in Ukraine.