The Russian occupiers have appropriated two bulk carriers in the port of Mariupol, the CFTS portal reports, citing the Reuters news agency.
According to the news agency, Russian-backed separatists informed the owners of the vessels about their seizure through the "leadership" of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic. The latter announced the "forcible appropriation of movable property with forced conversion into state property" without any compensation to the owners.
The vessels are the Smarta and Blue Star I bulk carriers. The Smarta bulk carrier arrived in Mariupol on 21 February and it was hit by shelling on 20 March. The Russians later forcibly transported the vessel’s 19-person crew to Donetsk and released them a month later.
The Smarta bulk carrier is owned by Smarta Shipping, a Maltese shipping company. It operates under the flag of Liberia.
The Blue Star I bulk carrier is owned by a Ukrainian company and operates under the flag of Panama.
Smarta Shipping said it was informed of the seizure by email on 30 June. It described the seizure as unlawful and "against all norms of international law."
"Such forced appropriation is in breach of fundamental human rights in so far as property rights are concerned," the company said in a statement. "Such action is a serious threat to shipping and to maritime safety."
The CFTS portal reported earlier, 68 foreign vessels remained blocked in Ukrainian seaports as of late May due to Russia’s military aggression.
Meanwhile, the Russian Federation could use some of these vessels to transport stolen goods from Ukrainian ports. In particular, the Russians have tried to transport Ukrainian grain from the captured city of Berdiansk on the Kazakh-owned Zhibek Zholy bulk carrier.
