19TH SANCTION PACKAGE TARGETS FURTHER RUSSIAN SHADOW FLEET
The European Union’s 19th sanctions package, adopted by the Council on 23 October, broadens sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels used to evade international oil price caps and transport sanctioned goods.
The package imposes a port access ban and prohibits the provision of maritime transport services to an additional 117 vessels, bringing the total number of sanctioned ships to 557. These measures specifically target non-EU tankers that support Russia’s energy sector or transport military equipment and stolen Ukrainian grain, further restricting their ability to operate within the EU.
The new sanctions also extend to key enablers of the shadow fleet, including Litasco Middle East DMCC, a prominent enabler based in the United Arab Emirates, as well as maritime registries that provide false flags to these vessels. With these measures, the EU aims to close loopholes that allow these ships to evade detection and continue their operations. Finally, the package introduces a ban on reinsuring vessels linked to the shadow fleet, making it even more difficult for these ships to secure the necessary coverage and operate legally.
Source: Council of the EU