Shipowners have been warned they could run the risk of breaking recently announced additional US sanctions against Russia by calling at the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol. The West of England P&I club has warned its members on the advice of its US attorney Freehill Hogan & Mahar. The US law firm has assessed the impact of President Joe Biden’s Executive Order which was issued on 21 February in response to Russia’s continued actions in Ukraine.

The latest US sanctions forbids US persons from engaging in activities connected with the disputed regions. The sanctions target Russia’s “purported recognition of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) or Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine. Importantly it might be read to prohibit calls at the port of Mariupol,” the West of England warned.

Mariupol is based in Donetsk in southeast Ukraine and is mainly a coal and steel export port. The warning comes despite Mariupol not being within the DNR and still part of Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Exceptions have been made under the US sanctions which allow for the carriage of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical services to the region. Licenses have also been granted to allow trade in the region during a wind-down period.

Freehill Hogan and Mahar said that the sanctions may not be limited to Mariupol but other ports in the disputed regions. But it found little else so far in the Executive Order to directly concern shipowners. “It appears at first glance that the impact of this Executive Order on international shipping may be somewhat limited” the law firm said in its assessment. However, it does expect there to be further developments that will impact the shipping industry.

“We continue to monitor developments in this area and are available to assist clients in understanding and examining how these developments may affect their business opportunities. Given the evolving nature of the current situation in Ukraine we anticipate the US will issue additional sanctions against Russia soon,” the law firm said.

The European Union, Japan, UK, Canada, and Japan have also issued sanctions against Russia.