United Kingdom sanctions ten additional ships in Russia’s shadow fleet

On September 11, 2024, the United Kingdom announced that it sanctioned ten additional vessels that were considered to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a group of vessels that engage in unlawful practices in an effort to avoid sanctions on Russian oil.  The sanctions are intended to target vessels that are “high-volume offenders” in an effort to limit the most critical revenue source used by the Russian Federation to fund its illegal war in Ukraine.  According to UK authorities, in 2023, funds from Russian oil exports accounted for roughly a quarter of the Russia’s budget for the war.  The sanctions, which were imposed under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/855), prohibit listed ships from entering a port in the UK, and may lead to their detention or result in a movement or port entry direction.  Sanctioned ships will also not be permitted to register on the UK Ship Register or their existing registrations will be terminated.

UK Government Press Release