Georgian Economy Ministry dismisses reports on entry of sanctioned ship in port as “fake”

Guram Guramishvili, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, on Wednesday dismissed reports by several opposition-minded TV channels that a ship under sanctions for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had entered the Black Sea port of Batumi. 

Calling the information “fake”, Guramishvili said at a special briefing that the vessel Atacama, sailing under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, had entered the “anchorage and not the dock” of the Batumi port on Monday for water and food supplies. 

Neither the ship nor its owner have been sanctioned [in international response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine]”, Guramishvili said, noting the vessel had been inspected by the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency and provided with food and water supplies through use of a sea transport.

In further details about the cargo, the official said the ship had not requested any operations at the port and intended to leave the anchorage after receiving the supplies on Tuesday. 

The Ministry of Economy said that the Atacama ship [IMO # 9248801, port of arrival Tuapse, Russia], sailing under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, entered Batumi anchorage on Monday. Photo: Batumi port. 

Guramishvili explained the sixth package of the European Union sanctions on Russia had banned the import of crude oil from Russia to EU member states starting on December 5, while restrictions on imports of  light oil products would be imposed from February 5, 2023. 

• Finance Minister rejects “even a theoretical possibility” of Georgia being used to circumvent of sanctions

In comments on the oil imports, the official also said Bulgaria would be allowed to transport energy products from Russia via sea until the end of 2024, while Croatia would be permitted to import light oil products from Russia until the end of 2023. “The EU sanctions do not apply to pipeline transportation of petroleum products”, Guramishvili added. 

The official also noted the Maritime Transport Agency and the Revenue Service were coordinating and continuously inspecting ships and their owner companies docking at or requesting services from Georgian ports in a bid to prevent violations of the sanctions.