European Court Rejects Appeal To Lift Port Ban On Historic Russian Ship

A replica of Peter the Great’s flagship, the Shtandart, is facing serious trouble after being caught up in EU sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The ship, which has been working in European ports for the last 15 years, was banned from entering EU waters in April 2022. The sanctions specifically target Russian-flagged vessels and those reflagged after the invasion.

The Shtandart, built to resemble the first ship of the Russian Imperial Navy, changed its flag to the Cook Islands in June 2024 to try and get around the ban. But, weeks later, the EU extended the sanctions to include historical ship replicas like the Shtandart.

Captain Vladimir Martus, a Russian national of Ukrainian descent, explained that the ship had been working in European ports for years without issue. He and the ship’s owner have been fighting the ban in court, but this week, their request to lift the ban was rejected.

Now, Martus is waiting for a full court ruling, hoping it will allow the ship to return to EU ports. But things are looking bleak. “We’ve had no income since July and are living off savings,” Martus said.

The ship was even barred from attending the Brest International Maritime Festival in July, a major event that could have helped them financially.

The crew is struggling to stay afloat. They are stuck on the ship, anchored off La Rochelle, France, and can’t dock anywhere for supplies. The crew, now just eight people, is having to ration water.

Despite the challenges, the Shtandart continues its mission of training young people in maritime skills. The crew is dedicated to teaching youngsters aged 16 to 30, even though getting them on board has become harder.

Martus says that none of the crew supports Russia’s war in Ukraine. “We’re not for Russia, but we are here to help young people learn skills they can use in the merchant navy,” he said.

Built in 1999 in St. Petersburg, the Shtandart is now owned by a Finnish citizen. With no clear end to the sanctions, Martus is considering taking the ship to the UK, which has its own sanctions policy.

For now, the future of the ship is uncertain. Martus and his crew are just hoping they can hold on long enough to hear a better court decision.

Reference: Shtandart