Primavera

The European Union has adopted its newest sanctions package on Dec 16, 2024, at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, adding 52 new vessels, among them the 'Rigel', to the sanctions list that have been deemed by the EU to be supporting Russia’s war machine. The vessels that have been sanctioned are primarily involved in circumventing the oil price cap mechanism implemented by the West, in arms deliveries, and in the transportation of stolen grain. This latest package has brought the total number of vessels sanctioned by the EU to 79. The majority of the vessels are involved in the transport of Russian oil and in transporting arms for the Russian military. The sanctions package also targets a total of 54 individuals and 30 entities that are deemed to be bolstering Russia’s war effort. Among them, there are also entities and individuals in China and North Korea who have been deemed to be supplying Russia with dual-use materials to support Russia’s military efforts. Two senior North Korean officials and seven Chinese individuals and companies have been targeted in the latest sanctions. The purpose of the sanctions has been defined to increase the operational costs for Russia by banning them from ports in the EU and hindering them from receiving maritime services.

The 114,000dwt tanker Primorsky Prospect (owner Sofcomflot) is expected to call as the first large tanker at the Port of Ust-Luga export oil terminal (owned by Rosneftbunker) on April 15, 2011, PortNews reports citing a source in the Port Authority. The dredging of the Ust-Luga’s berths is ongoing and the depths of berths are now 16 meters, the Port Authority said. Gunvor’s division – JSC Rosneftbunker is the customer-developer of the liquid bulk terminal worth some RUB 26bn, now under construction. The terminal’s projected capacity is 30 million tons of petroleum products a year. In 2011, Rosneftbunker plans to export 10-11 million tons of petroleum products via the terminal. On Jan. 31, 2011, the terminal loaded the first oil cargo onto SCF Neva, the 47,000dwt product tanker owned by Sovcomflot.