Antwerp stops servicing Russian ships carrying some goods

The Port of Antwerp has stopped accepting Russian ships in the port from 17 April, but exemptions remain in place for ships carrying natural gas, petroleum, coal and some other products.

PHOTO: Bunkering of vessel at the Port of Antwerp. Port of Antwerp

Pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural products, fertilizers and humanitarian aid are also excluded from the suspension.

The new rules for the exclusion of Russian ships have been drawn up by the ministers of the North Sea and Foreign Affairs, the Shipping Police, Defence, Customs, the Department of Mobility and Public Works and DG Shipping, says Port of Antwerp.

These are based on the rules of the European Union and will remain in place until 10 August, it says.

The Port of Antwerp has expressed its support and empathy for “all the human suffering that the conflict in Ukraine entails.”

The European Union has imposed several sanctions packages on Russia since it invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

The Maritime Information Crossroads (MIK) of the Maritime Security Unit (CMB) gets a list of the Russian ships coming to a Belgian port and gives permission for their movement. The permission given to a ship only applies to the ship carrying what is deemed to be permitted goods during a set time and the Belgian port in question.

The port authorities are required to check proof of permitted cargo for each of the allowed Russian ships.