Qatari-flagged vessels are not being accepted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Saudi Arabia after Arab nations decided to cut ties with the oil-rich country.

Senior Qatar Port Authority officials confirm that vessels carrying the Qatari flag are not allowed to berth in UAE ports, according to a notice from Inchape Shipping Services (ISS).

But ISS added that inward and outward clearance of all ships in Qatar-based ports continues as normal.

The UAE emirate of Abu Dhabi has also banned Qatar-flagged vessels and any ship travelling from or to Qatar from entering all its oil ports, local media report.

A spokesperson from leading terminal operator DP World told TradeWinds: “In line with the UAE government’s recent decision on severing diplomatic ties with the state of Qatar, DP World confirms that vessels with the flag of Qatar or vessels destined to or arriving from Qatar are not allowed to call at any DP World terminals in the UAE until further notice."

Norway’s Norsk Hydro said exports of aluminium from the Qatalum metals plant in Qatar have been blocked by the UAE.

The Norwegian company has a 50% stake in the Qatalum joint venture (JV) that produces more than 600,000 tonnes of primary aluminium per year.

“Most Qatalum shipments normally go through the large Jebel Ali port in UAE, but this port looks to be closed for all Qatar shipments from Tuesday morning,” Norsk Hydro said in a statement.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have also issued statements notifying shipping agents not to accept vessels linked to Qatar.

Vessels already in port stuck

Saudis Port Authority said vessels in port and destined for Qatar will not receive port clearance.

The ports and maritime affairs at the Bahrain ministry of transportation has advised that all Bahrain ports and territorial waters will remain suspended for marine navigation from and to Qatar also with immediate effect.

UAE, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar blaming the latter for backing militant groups and terrorists.

As TradeWinds reported yesterday, the latest sanctions could affect LNG charter rates at the same time as affecting bunkering operations in the Middle East.

Qatari shipowner Milaha which had not responded to an e-mail for further comment at the time of writing.

Most of Qatar’s daily food and water supplies come from Saudi Arabia.

Qatar Airways said it has cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE until further notice.