Ukraine – Effect of Martial Law on Commercial Shipping
29 November 2018
As Members may be aware, the Ukrainian government has imposed thirty days of martial law, starting on 28 November 2018 and ending on 27 December, across ten regions of Ukraine bordering Russia to the east and the Black and Azov Seas to the south. This was imposed in response to an incident the Black Sea on 25 November, where Russian Navy vessels fired upon and seized three Ukrainian vessels, and detained 23 Ukrainian sailors.
Please click here for the map of the affected areas, which has been provided by a Ukraine Correspondent, Dias Marine Consulting PC.
The Correspondent advises, amongst other things, that:
1. At the present time there are no serious restrictions on the operation of the state services and bodies.
2. There are no restrictions on foreign seafarers’ access to public areas.
3. Whilst Russian seafarers on board vessels calling at Ukraine will not be subject to discrimination and persecution, in line with existing regulations Immigration Authorities may investigate further and/or bring charges against Russian seafarers who have previously visited Crimean ports.
4. Foreign vessels heading to Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea, such as Mariupol and Berdyansk, may be detained in the Kerch Strait for inspection and search. It is thought unlikely that this will be the case if the vessels are heading to Russian Ports.
For the full advice of the Correspondent, please click here. Should the Club learn of any changes to the above, a further News Alert will be sent, but Members should in the meantime be duly diligent in assessing the situation.