SHTANDART

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Captain of Shtandart hopes of exemption from sanctions against Russia

The captain of the 'Shtandart' hopes that the ship will be granted an exemption from the Russian sanctions, which will make it welcome in European ports again. The ship has been sailing outside Russia for almost three years. The captain does not want to return, but is not allowed to visit European ports. The wait is now on for the European Court, where an appeal against the sanctions has been filed. Since the sanctions against Russia, the ship is no longer welcome. Captain Vladimir Martoes is half Russian, half Ukrainian and has been living in Europe for 10 years. He previously stated that he is a fierce opponent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He does not want to return to Russia with the ship, for fear that it will be seized and he himself will be arrested for his criticism of the regime. France currently tolerates the ship as long as it is at anchor and not moored in a port. It is currently in a bay near Bordeaux. The ship also sails with paying guests, which provides income. The volunteer crew members are all European and can go ashore with rubber dinghies to stock up on provisions. Bunkering with drinking water is a lot more difficult. This is done in ports where the ship is allowed to call occasionally, such as La Rochelle. The captain hopes for a permanent mooring, so that he can build up a life somewhere. The Zaans Erfgoed Association already approached the municipality of Zaanstad to arrange a permanent mooring for the 'Shtandart' in Zaandam, but was refused. The hope now is that the ship will soon fall under an exception clause: Russian ships with a humanitarian mission are welcome in European ports. The crew already set up a project for medical aid and aid to children in Ukraine, but Brussels did not see this as a humanitarian mission. The captain has objected to this, but no decision has been made yet.. Sailing under a different flag is not an option, because a Russian ship that changes flag at this time will not escape sanctions.

Medevac in Bay of Saint-Brieuc

Prohibited from docking during the Brest maritime festivals in July, the 'Shtandart' was sailing in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, when one of its crew members injured on the evening of Aug 20 and was rescued by the SNSM Erquy, and treated at the port of Dahouët. The SNSM lifeboat "Côte de Penthièvre", was deployed shortly before 8 p.m. to medevac the woman.

Russian ship berthed in Brest despite sanctions

The 'Shtandart', banned from European ports due to sanctions against Russia, was nevertheless granted permission to stop in La Rochelle on Aug 5 and Aug 6 to refuel, The shoü had been banned from the port of Brest on July 7, and from participating in the city's maritime festivals in early July by order of the prefect of Finistère. The Finistère prefecture justified its decision by the application of European sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, extended since June 24, 2024 to "historical replica ships" or "having flown the Russian flag before February 24, 2022". The captain Vladimir Martus had challenged the prefectural decree before the administrative court of Rennes, assuring that he had "no link" with "the regime" of Vladimir Putin, but the court had rejected his request.. Now the prefect of Charente-Maritime authorised the ship to stop in the marina of La Rochelle to ensure its refuelling. The vessel changed flags at the beginning of June and is now registered in the Cook Islands.