12 October 2024
(Photo: AFP)
USKO MFU, a Cameroon-flagged bulk carrier, was confiscated in Odesa region. The reason was illegal entry into the ports of the temporarily occupied Crimea. The court decided to transfer it to state ownership.
This was reported by the State Border Guard Service.
According to the border guards, the detention took place in July 2024 in Odesa region, when the Maritime Guard units detected violations of navigation in the waters under temporary occupation.
The Dnipro District Court of Kyiv decided to transfer the vessel to the National Asset Management Agency (ARMA).
The captain of the vessel is charged under Part 2 of Article 332-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - violation of the procedure for entering the occupied territories with the aim of harming the state interests.
For violation of Ukrainian legislation and international law, the vessel will now be transferred to state control for further use.
"Ukraine continues to firmly defend its sovereignty in its territorial waters, recalling that all ports of Crimea and the Sea of Azov remain closed for commercial activity. Any operations in these ports violate international norms and the legislation of Ukraine," the State Border Guard Service said in a statement.
Earlier, the Emmakris III (Panama flag), owned by a Russian company, was arrested in the port of Chornomorsk. The court transferred it to state ownership and recently ARMA found a new manager.
In May of this year, Ukraine confiscated another ship, a Russian fishing trawler worth more than UAH 1 billion, which was being repaired at a plant in Mykolaiv.
Meanwhile, the state-owned Odesa Port company has put the Admiral De Ribas vessel for sale for the second time, along with the equipment attached to it. The starting price remained the same - UAH 22.5 million. However, the auction did not take place.
Ірина Глухова