Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published Apr 21, 2022 5:20 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Biden administration announced Thursday that it plans to ban all Russian-linked ships from American ports, joining the UK and Canada. The European Union has a similar but less stringent ban on Russian-flagged ships, with broad exemptions for Russian-controlled but foreign-flagged vessels. 

“[This] means no ship, no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity will be allowed to dock in a United States port or access our shores. None,”  President Joe Biden said in a statement Thursday. 

The measure is unlikely to have a significant impact on Russian shipping. The U.S. has already banned the most important Russian export commodity, crude oil, and Russian vessels make up a minute fraction of the traffic at American seaports. In 2021, Russian vessels made only 1,800 port calls in the United States, according to Reuters.

However, the ban represents an  important symbolic message about America's resolve to isolate the Russian economy in response to the invasion of Ukraine. 

“This is yet another critical step we are taking in concert with our partners in the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada in further to deny Russia the benefits of the international economic system that they so enjoyed in the past,” Biden said. 

The American Maritime Partnership, the voice of the U.S. shipping industry, suggested that the ban illustrated the need for a strong domestic maritime sector. 

“The President’s ban on Russian ships from U.S. ports announced today is yet another reminder of why this nation has demanded a strong American Maritime for more than a century. A capable domestic maritime industry ensures that U.S. national security, homeland security, and economic security are not reliant on global competitors and adversaries. Without a strong American Maritime, our nation would be at the mercy of foreign entities like Russia,” said Ku’uhaku Park, President of the American Maritime Partnership, in a statement Thursday.

The UK and Canada have already implemented a complete ban on Russian-linked ships, though Russian cargoes may still arrive aboard other vessels. 

The European Union has implemented a partial ban on Russian-flagged shipping, with an exemption for energy cargoes and for Russian-owned/operated vessels that are flagged with open registries. Greek officials have already used the ban to seize one Russian-flagged tanker, the Pegas, which was also covered by U.S. sanctions on the Russian government. The 115,000 dwt crude tanker was detained off the coast of the island of Evia in mid-April; however, Greece determined that it did not have the legal authority to hold her, and she has been released.

Published May 13, 2022 7:47 PM by The Maritime Executive

Dutch startup Eco Clipper, which looks to develop global sail cargo operations, has announced the sailing schedule for its first vessel, a smaller two-masted sailing ship acquired in January 2022. The 110-year-old ship is seen as a proof of concept and an opportunity to draw attention to the company’s efforts to build modern adaptations of traditional sailing ships that would carry up to 500 tons of cargo. De Tukker is the first in a fleet of low-impact sailing ships which...

Published May 13, 2022 6:55 PM by The Maritime Executive

Faced with the need for heightened preparedness in Europe, the navies of the U.K. and the U.S are looking at the possibility of using commercial tankers to carry out at-sea refueling for warships.  As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, the Royal Navy has announced that it has been paving the way for NATO to use commercial tankers for underway replenishment after its auxiliary ship Tidesurge linked up with the U.S.-flagged, government-chartered tanker Maersk Peary in Lyme Bay. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) supports Royal Navy warships...

Published May 13, 2022 6:50 PM by The Maritime Executive

A 30-year-old cruise ship rebranded Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is ready to start the latest adaptation of a well-known consumer brand into the cruise industry. With a performance from famed singer Jimmy Buffet, the new cruise operation completed an industry preview at the end of the week and will start its maiden voyage on May 14 to the Bahamas.  The cruise ship arrived back at the Port of Palm Beach, Florida on May 10 after undergoing an extensive refurbishment and...

Published May 13, 2022 6:23 PM by The Maritime Executive

U.S. researchers and scientists will soon embark on a 10-day expedition to explore and investigate the shipwreck of the Civil War vessel USS Monitor, which sank 160 years ago off the North Carolina coast. On May 15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists and partner researchers will set out on an expedition to survey the Monitor for the first time since her turret was recovered in 2002. The remains of the iconic Civil War ship lie sixteen miles off the coast of Cape...

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