A veteran Ukrainian general cargo vessel has been barred from European ports after failing to call for repairs.

The Paris MOU on Port State Control (Paris MOU) said the 3,100-dwt Sefora (built 1972) was detained in Constanta, Romania, on 26 August after failing a safety inspection.

The cargo ship left the port on 9 September but did not dock at a repair yard in Izmail, Ukraine, as agreed.

The vessel flies the flag of Cameroon, which is black on the current Paris MOU list.

Inspectors noted 24 deficiencies during the check.

Grounds for detention included problems with fire drills, pollution certificates, food provisions, and the fire detection and alarm system.

Inspectors also found hull corrosion and deficiencies with the steering gear.

AIS data shows the vessel left the port of Reni in Ukraine on 1 October and has now anchored at the Tekirdag anchorage in Turkey.

The operator is listed as Sea-Star Kherson of Kherson, a region which has been illegally annexed by Russia but remains at the centre of heaving fighting.

The manager could not be contacted.

Mila banned in June

This is not the first time a Ukrainian vessel has fallen foul of the Paris MOU since the war began.

In June, the Moldova-flagged, 3,200-dwt Mila (built 1972) was banned for three months after also failing to call at a repair yard in Izmail.

The vessel was detained in Chioggia, Italy, on 2 May after failing safety checks.

TradeWinds was told Izmail was available at the time.

The ship had headed there but, due to waiting times, decided to go to Tuzla in Turkey instead.

The Mila was listed as operated by Argo Shipping of Ukraine.