Pro-Russian separatists seized two foreign-flagged ships in the port of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, declaring they were now “state property”. These are the first such actions against commercial shipping, according to the letters obtained by Reuters.
Mariupol, in the southeastern tip of Ukraine, came under Russian and separatist control in May after a months-long siege. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, through its “Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, has informed two shipping companies that their ships will be “subject to compulsory confiscation of movable property” which becomes “state property” without any compensation for the owners.
Smarta Shipping, which owns the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Smarta, said it was informed of the seizure on June 30 via email and called it “illegal” and against “all rules of international law”.
“Such forced seizure constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights, in terms of property rights,” he commented, stressing that it is a “serious threat to shipping and navigational safety.”
According to the company, the Smarta arrived in Mariupol on February 21 to load steel and was hit by shelling in the city on March 20, resulting in severe damage to its bridge. The 19 crew members were forcibly taken to Donetsk by Russian soldiers and released a month later.
The other ship seized is the Panama-flagged Blue Star I.
An executive at Odesa-based management company Fetida Maritaime declined to comment, saying Ukraine’s security services have all relevant information.
A Ukrainian foreign ministry official said he was aware of the announcement by the “Russian occupation authority in Donetsk about the creation of a national fleet consisting of ships stolen in Mariupol”, adding that they were checking the information.
More than 80 foreign-flagged ships remain stranded in Ukrainian ports, according to UN figures. Some of these ports are controlled by the Russians.
SOURCE: APE-ME
Source: Capital
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