Continue Reading How sanctions transformed the shipping industry in 2025
China’s Ministry of Transport will impose a new “Special Port Service Fee” on U.S. linked vessels from 14 October 2025, aligning with U.S. Section 301 measures taking effect the same day. In its announcement, the Chinese Ministry of Transport criticises the U.S. actions announced in April this year and warns of significant disruption to maritime
Tonzip Maritime Ltd v. 2Rivers Pte Ltd (formerly Coral Energy Pte Ltd) [2025] EWHC 2036 (Comm)
On 5 November 2021, Tonzip Maritime Ltd (Owners), owner of the vessel CATALAN SEA (the Vessel), entered into a voyage charterparty with 2Rivers Pte Ltd (formerly Coral Energy Pte Ltd) (2Rivers) for the carriage of oil from Primorsk, Russia, to Aliaga, Turkey (the Charterparty).Continue Reading Refusing voyage orders: Sanctions risk assessments must be based on evidence, not speculation
On April 17, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a series of fees and restrictions intended to address China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. The announcement follows the USTR’s year-long investigation into China’s acts, policies, and practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Maritime transport services
After many rumors of potential changes to the U.S. policy on Venezuela, on October 18, 2023 the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued four general licenses, representing a significant shift in its Venezuela sanctions program. Most pertinent for the shipping industry, certain sanctions that were in place against Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) and the Venezuela oil, gas and mining sectors have now largely been relaxed.Continue Reading Shipping briefing: Drill, baby, drill? A new Venezuelan wave for the shipping industry
As we are nearing the one-year anniversary of the Russian oil price cap, this is an important reminder to operators across the industry that enforcement will be coming.
Continue Reading A little less conversation, more action
Companies and individuals alike have struggled to keep on top of the increased sanctions risks emanating from the heightening of international tensions in recent years. Recently, two English law cases, Havila Kystruten AS and Others v. STLC Europe Twenty Three Leasing Ltd and Another [2022] EWHC 3166 (Comm) (referred to as the Havila case) and
The UK, EU and U.S. have each released information on the relevant price cap for oil products with HS/CN Code 2709 of Russian origin or exported from Russia shortly before the ban on maritime services for the transportation of Russian crude oil on December 5th, 2022. This announcement follows the publication of the UK’s “Maritime
The UK introduces a prohibition on maritime services for the supply or delivery of Russian origin or Russian consigned oil.
Continue Reading UK imposes oil price cap ban for maritime transport and services