Prohibition of Russian vessels

As a port authority we have a legal duty to afford eligible vessels entry to the port. We continue to do this, while applying the regulations to affected vessels.

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 prohibit Russian ships, and other ships specified by the Secretary of State for Transport, from entering ports in the United Kingdom.

The regulations specifically require that ports must not provide a ship access to a UK port if they know, or have reasonable cause to suspect, that the ship is: owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person; owned, controlled, chartered or operated by persons connected with Russia; flying the flag of Russia; registered in Russia; or ship otherwise specified.

At the Port of London Authority we are using a sanctions procedure to assess whether vessels of concern fall into the categories set out in the regulations.

Decisions are made on whether to refuse or allow a vessel entry to the port based on the criteria set out in the regulations, using a commercially available database. Where the available data is unclear, we can delay the vessel while we seek Department for Transport guidance on whether or not to admit it to the port.