Six more vessels have been removed from ship registers after making alleged illegal calls in the former Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
Belize, Cameroon, Comoros and Palau are among the flags to have booted vessels off their books in 2020.
Ukraine has been vocal in reminding shipowners that Ukrainian certification is needed for voyages into the area, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Belize deflagged the 4,800-dwt asphalt and bitumen tanker Hercules (built 1997) on 19 August, Ukrainian documents sent to the International Maritime Organization reveal.
The vessel is managed by Alfamarine Shipping of Russia.
The Cameroon-flagged, 5,100-dwt general cargoship Antalya (built 1978), managed by United Marine of Romania, was removed on 2 February.
The Comoros-flagged, 279-dwt tug Feras (built 1993), which is owned by Bretfort Trade of Hong Kon, was also removed in February.
Comoros also deflagged another tug — the 438-gt Hawar (built 1996). Its manager, Uvas-Trade, is listed as being based in Kerch in Crimea.
In May, the register kicked out the 6,800-dwt general cargoship Bella (built 1985), which is managed by Bella Shipping of Belize.
Palau also removed the 2,900-dwt edible oils tanker Viva 962 (built 1993) this month. It is operated by Viva Shipping 962 Corp of Panama.
Flags unknown
The vessels' new flags are not known.
TradeWinds has contacted Uvas-Trans for comment, but was unable to contact the other companies.
TradeWinds reported earlier this year that registers such as Panama, Mongolia and Tanzania had been busy removing vessels that visited Crimea. Three ships were previously known to have been deregistered this year.
Documents needed
Calling the area "temporarily occupied", Vitalii Moshkivskyi, the deputy permanent representative of Ukraine to the IMO, told TradeWinds that, since 2017, 11 registers have deflagged 57 vessels for violating United Nations and European Union sanctions imposed on Russia for the "illegal" annexation.
He said there is a ban on imports of goods originating in Crimea unless they have Ukrainian certificates.
Moshkivskyi said: "Ukraine expects that the relevant flag state administrations ensure compliance by shipowners, ship operators and ship masters with international law and the order of entry to the autonomous republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation."
In 2014, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a law stating that overseas nationals are only allowed to enter and exit Crimea provided they have a special permit issued by the State Migration Service of Ukraine and only through the points of entry and exit controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.
Violation of this order is punishable with custodial restraint for up to three years or imprisonment for the same term.
Flashpoint at entrance to Sea of Azov
Last July, it was reported that the Ukrainian security service believed it had identified the tanker that was used in the seizure of three Ukrainian ships in November 2018.
The 3,800-dwt Nika Spirit (built 1989) was arrested in Izmail.
The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said 10 Russian crew were held for questioning.
Russian news agencies said around 15 Russians had been on board at the time of the seizure.
Ukraine’s security service alleged the Nika Spirit — formerly the Neyma — was placed beneath a bridge near Crimea in order to block the three Ukrainian navy ships from entering the Sea of Azov.
Russia seized the Ukrainian vessels after opening fire on them, detaining 24 Ukrainian sailors and accusing them of illegally entering its territorial waters, a charge they denied.
The region was annexed in February 2014 following the Ukrainian revolution that ousted president Viktor Yanukovych.
A controversial Crimea-wide referendum, unconstitutional under the Ukrainian and Crimean constitutions, was held on the issue of reunification with Russia — and its official results showed a majority support for reunification.
However, the vote was boycotted by many loyal to Ukraine and declared illegitimate by Western governments and the UN.
