The Biden Administration has unveiled another round of blacklistings in a bid to punish companies that support Moscow’s war on Ukraine, slapping sanctions on a Russian shipowner, oilfield services firms and others.
The US State Department announced that it has designated Sakhalin Shipping Co (Sasco), along with two subsidiaries and a fleet of 14 vessels.
Officials said the company has provided key logistics support for multiple Russian energy projects by moving construction materials and equipment to the Taimyr Peninsula in the country’s far north.
“Sasco is also involved in expanding Russia’s trade routes to new jurisdictions as the Russian Federation looks to backfill economic connections it has lost due to the invasion of Ukraine,” the department said.
The blacklisting comes as part of sanctions that allow the US federal government to target the Russian marine sector.
Also targeted with sanctions were subsidiaries MPL Vanino Sakhalin, a unit that facilitates renting and leasing of marine transport equipment, and Vostok Reid Invest, which buys and sells real estate for Sasco.
The targeted vessels include six multipurpose ships: the 12,700-dwt heavylift Sasco Aldan (built 2007), 9,105-dwt Kunashir (built 1998), 9,141-dwt Paramushir (built 1999), the 9,689-dwt Selenga (built 1988), 9,141-dwt Shantar (built 1999) and 9,185-dwt Simushir (built 1998).
Also added to the blacklist are four container ships: the 705-teu Sasco Avacha (built 2001), Sasco Angara (built 2001) and Sasco Aniva (built 2002), and 366-teu Zeya (built 1995).
The 275-lane-metre ro-ro Patria (built 1999) was also placed on the sanctions list.
Finally, three ropax ferries were targeted: the 80-passenger Sakhalin-8 (built 1985), 72-passenger Sakhalin-9 (built 1986) and 100-passenger Sakhalin-10 (built 1992).
What tangible impact the move will have is unclear.
The sanctions block anyone in the US from doing business with the blacklisted companies and vessels.
Sasco’s vessels primarily operate on Russia’s east coast, with some linking it to China. They are flagged in Russia and are classed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, according to Equasis.
No one who spoke English was available at Sasco’s offices on Sakhalin Island and in Moscow, and TradeWinds has requested comment by email.
In addition to targeting other companies involved in pushing forward Russian oil and gas projects, Washington added pressure on subsidiaries of state atomic energy company Rosatom, including its AEM Propulsion subsidiary that provides nuclear propulsion systems for ships.
