VLADIMIR VORONIN

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24 hirs pitstop near Honningsvåg raising questions about the adequacy of Norwegian sanctions

On April 15/16, 2023 the 'Vladimir Voronin', coming from near Murmansk, anchored for around 24 hours off the coast of Honningsvåg, s carrying Russian LNG from the Yamal peninsula for Novatek – a Russian natural gas company sanctioned by the United States. The 'Vladimir Voronin' previously held a certification from the Russian Maritime Register but withdrew this registration, thus avoiding a ban from Norwegian ports. As of 8 April 2023, all vessels certified by the Russian Maritime Register, regardless of the flag under which the vessel is registered and regardless of size, are no longer permitted to dock in Norway’s ports. The vessel also holds protection and indemnity insurance from Assuranceforeningen Skuld, an international marine insurance company based in Oslo. While the 'Vladimir Voronin'’s stopover was not in violation of Norwegian sanctions, it highlighted the interconnections of international logistics and energy flows and Norway’s role in them. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated last week that it would provide comments on the matter. The EU last month discussed a proposal to ban the import of Russian LNG into the bloc, raising questions if sanctions would extend to the LNG carriers themselves. The ship’s stop was not due to an emergency situation or technical difficulties but was related to scheduled crew changes, supplies and possibly other minor services. The vessel departed from the Kildin Island anchorage off the coast of Murmansk 12 hours earlier, raising further questions as to the need for crew exchanges and provisioning to take place in Norwegian waters. The ship arrived in Bilbao on May 1 for orders. Report with photo: https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/troubled-waters-lng-ship-carrying-russian-gas-stops-north-norway