Italy’s Guardia di Finanza has detained in the port of Brindisi a vessel flying the flag of one of the islands of Oceania and carrying 33,000 tons of ferrous metals. In November last year, the ship called at the port of Novorossiysk. It is suspected of violating sanctions against Russia, Rai News reports.
“EU Regulation 833/2014 and subsequent amendments provide for a ban on commercial activity in certain locations, including some ports of the Russian Federation, as well as on the import of certain categories of goods, and the imposition of sanctions on a number of individuals and legal entities included on the ‘blacklist,’” law enforcement representatives said.
The notice also says the shipowner, the importing company and some crew members are under investigation for circumventing sanctions. The ship was detained following a customs check: a review of documents and navigation system data revealed “serious inconsistencies, falsifications and alterations in onboard documentation concerning port calls and loading operations.” It was established that from November 13 to 16 the vessel was in Novorossiysk, while deactivating its AIS, likely in an attempt to conceal the stop.
