Recital 26

(26) The Union has imposed significant restrictive measures in the maritime sector vis-à-vis Russia, in particular regarding the fleet of tanker vessels, known as the ‘shadow fleet’, engaged in irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in International Maritime Organisation General Assembly resolution A.1192(33). In order to ensure that vessels sold by Union operators do not join or support the shadow fleet, the conditions applying to sales of tanker vessels to operators in third countries should be tightened by providing for specific due diligence and a mandatory clause in tanker vessel sales agreements in accordance with which the vessels cannot be sold on or transferred to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Russia, or for use in Russia. Such due diligence should be proportionate, and include a screening of all parties to the transaction. In the specific context of tanker vessel sales, where a Union seller has carried out appropriate due diligence and obtained the required contractual commitments, the Union seller should not be held liable for a subsequent breach of those commitments by the buyer, provided the Union seller acted in good faith and did not possess information suggesting an intent to circumvent the measures. The liability for such a breach should rest with the third-country party that fails to respect the contractual prohibition.

← Recital 25 · All articles · Recital 27 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-09 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.