Ukraine to Close Crimean Ports

July 7, 2014

Ukraine shall close the ports located on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for international shipping, the Ukrainian Government said this morning.

The decision on closing relates to the ports Evpatoria, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia, Yalta and Sevastopol.

The move stems from a corresponding decree issued on June 16th, 2014 “On closing of the seaports”, registered in the Ministry of Justice on 24 June, 2014, and the decision will come into force after its official publication.

Ukraine has informed the International Maritime Organization (IMO) about drawing up of a decree on closing the Crimean ports in mid-May 2014.

Transport and navigation in this area has been attributed with a “high level of risk” by the Ukrainian port authorities that claimed they could not vouch for navigational safety in waters around Crimean ports.

The safety in Crimean ports and waters is being ensured by the Russian Federation, as explained by the country’s Department of State Policy for Marine and River Transport, RF Transport Ministry in a note to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), writes PortNews.

The IMO, being a branch of the UN, does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea declared in May.

World Maritime News Staff