According to a statement, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) asked the European Maritime Safety Agency on Tuesday 12 April to provide a “clear list of Russian vessels to be banned from EU ports, taking into account those vessels that have re-flagged or re-registered since 24 February”, in connection with the fifth package of sanctions adopted against Russia on 8 April (see EUROPE 12929/1).
For ESPO, “a harmonised implementation of the ban on Russian vessels from EU ports should be ensured, maintaining a level playing field between ports and preventing ‘port shopping’ by Russian ships”.
The organisation also considered that the competent authorities, both at national and European level, should provide sufficient staff and resources to ensure the smooth implementation of sanctions.
It also highlighted the fact that the EU measures - the ban on Russian ships in European ports, the embargo on Russian coal, various bans on the import and export of goods - involve numerous additional checks to monitor and determine which ships and cargoes are affected by the ban and which should be exempted. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)