Russia's transport ministry has put draft legislation out for public consultation that would bar foreign-flagged merchant vessels older than 40 years from Russian ports, Splash247 reported on 2 November1. The draft proposes a separate 50-year threshold for Russian-flagged ships, with transitional arrangements1.
The proposal comes as Moscow tightens oversight of the fleet carrying its seaborne trade, Splash247 reported1. The measure is a draft, not law, so the thresholds and timing can still change before adoption.
What the draft would do
Under the proposal, a foreign-flagged ship older than 40 years would no longer be allowed to call at Russian ports1. Ships sailing under the Russian flag would have a higher ceiling of 50 years, and the draft includes transitional arrangements1.
Splash247 did not set out which vessel types are covered, whether any exemptions apply, the consultation deadline or the intended start date1.
The rule would land on a fleet already shaped by sanctions. Russia's oil exports have drawn on a shadow fleet of older tankers2. The International Maritime Organization has described the dark fleet as between 300 and 600 tankers made up mainly of older ships, a global estimate rather than a Russia-only count2.
For charterers, the practical effect would be a shorter list of ships to fix for Russian loadings. When eligible tonnage is tight, that can mean waiting longer for a ship and less room to negotiate freight.
Shipowners and their insurers also have a stake. An age limit set by the port state sits alongside the flag, class and insurance checks that charterers already run. An owner whose ship falls outside the limit would need to find other trades for it.
What happens next
The draft now goes through public consultation, after which the government would settle a final text. Splash247's report gave no timetable for either step1.
Anyone fixing tonnage for Russian loadings will want three answers. Does the age test apply at the time of the call, or at the date the ship was built? Which ship types are covered? How long does the transitional period run? The report did not answer those questions1.