The European Union has released its 21st sanctions package targeting Russia, and a proposed full ban on maritime services tied to Russian oil and LNG shipments has been shelved, according to Windward. The decision means European shipowners and marine service providers can continue transporting Russian oil, provided it is sold below the Oil Price Cap.
According to Windward, disagreements over a complete maritime services ban—reportedly led by Greece—delayed sign-off on the package. Windward notes that European shipowners currently transport roughly 25% of Russian crude, refined products, and fuel oil under the existing price cap mechanism.
LNG Sanctions Sharpen Focus
Windward reports that sanctions efforts are increasingly shifting toward Russia’s LNG revenue stream. The new package clarifies rules around an LNG terminal services ban set to take effect on January 1, which Windward says has complicated compliance for firms holding contracts signed before Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A temporary exemption has been included for EU-owned LNG carriers with pre-invasion contracts.
Vessels and Entities Added
According to Windward, the package adds 41 vessels to the EU’s sanctions list, bringing the total to 673. The report states that 34 of the newly listed ships are tankers—including smaller coastal tankers used to supply so-called shadow fleet vessels—alongside six bulk carriers and one service vessel. Twelve of the 41 had already been sanctioned under other designations, Windward notes.
The package also sanctions eight shipmanagers based in India, Singapore, Oman, China, and the UAE, along with Dubai-based Aquamarine Ship Management—described by Windward as the first crewing agency to be sanctioned. Three Russian oil refineries and one Belarusian refinery were also listed.
Windward reports that the EU sanctioned Suniel Kumar, identified as the operator behind a network of fraudulent ship registries—including the Guyana registry—used by shadow fleet tankers to evade sanctions.
Other Measures
According to Windward, the package freezes the crude oil price cap at $44.10 per barrel until July 2027, extends Japan’s exemption for Sakhalin 2 crude imports, and imposes new import restrictions on copper, nickel, lead, and precious-metal ores. Restrictions on the sale of EU-owned LNG tankers to third countries were also introduced, requiring prior notification to regulators. Georgia’s Kulevi refinery has been given six months to stop using Russian oil, Windward reports.
The report also notes that the package’s legal text permits authorities to safely dispose of seized and confiscated Russian oil cargoes—relevant given that at least three shadow fleet vessels are currently detained in France, Germany, and Belgium.
Does This Matter to You?
This development is directly relevant to parties involved in Russian oil and LNG trade compliance, including shipowners, charterers, and bunkering operators servicing vessels linked to sanctioned trades. The continuation of price-cap-compliant shipping, combined with expanded vessel and shipmanager sanctions lists, means compliance teams should review counterparties and vessel histories closely. The clarified LNG terminal services rules and upcoming January 1 deadline also carry operational implications for parties with pre-2022 contractual exposure to Russian LNG infrastructure.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Windward
