Russian-flagged ships to be banned from entering EU ports

To support the implementation of the regulation, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has, as the competent authority under the Vessel Traffic Service Act, provided Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services and Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd with instructions on how to implement the regulation. Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services provides vessel traffic services to merchant shipping and other marine traffic.

Vessels flying the Russian flag are prohibited from entering Finnish ports as from 16 April 2022 at 00.00. The access ban also applies to vessels that have changed their Russian flag to the flag of another country after 24 February 2022. Innocent passage, meaning navigation through the territorial sea, is still allowed. 

Derogations from the ban may be granted to certain vessels. Authorisations to access ports may be granted based on the type of goods vessels carry. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs acts as the licensing authority.

The port access ban applies to ships, yachts and recreational craft. The ban does not apply in the case of a vessel in need of assistance seeking a place of refuge, of an emergency port call for reasons of maritime safety, or for saving life at sea.

The legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU (External link)

• Ministry for Foreign Affairs press release regarding the fifth sanctions package, 8 April 2022: EU imposes additional sanctions on Russia (External link)
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs press release regarding the derogation procedure, 13 April 2022 (in Finnish): Venäjä-pakotteet: maantiekuljetukset EU:ssa ja alusten pääsy satamiin (External link)
• European Commission press release, 11 April 2022: Prohibition to access EU ports - FAQ (External link)