Bulgaria will close its sea and river ports to all vessels certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, regardless of flag, from 8 April 2023.
The executive agency of the Bulgarian Maritime Administration announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports.
The ban was introduced in accordance with the European Union’s directive on the implementation of sanctions.
The relevant orders of the directors of the territorial offices of the Bulgarian Maritime Administration (captains of ports) are posted on the Bulgarian Maritime Administration’s web portal. The orders prohibit vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation and vessels that changed the Russian flag or registration to the flag or registration of any other country after 24 February 2022 from entering Bulgarian ports The orders also stipulate the cases and conditions under which derogations from this prohibition are permitted.
Bulgaria banned Russian-flagged ships from entering its ports in April last year. The ban has now been extended to Russian vessels flying the flags of other countries.
