Vessels staying at anchorage facilities beyond border checkpoints in the Gulf of Finland subject to fines

From 22 July 2019, Border Control Agency of Russian Federal Security Service started fining masters and ship owners for violation of RF Law dated 1 April 1993 (No 4730-I) “On the State Border of the Russian Federation”, say the shipping market players. As four representatives of different shipping companies and maritime agencies told IAA PortNews, the legislation compliance problems involve vessels bound for the ports of the Gulf of Finland, Ust-Luga and Primorsk.  

The anchorage facilities of those ports (near the islands of Gogland and Seskar) shown on all navigational charts, covered by the mentioned seaports’ by-laws and recommended to vessels for waiting until the berths of Ust-Luga and Primorsk are available, turn out to be not included into the limits of RF border checkpoints. Meanwhile, the Law on RF State Border prescribes that vessels crossing the border of the Russian Federation should immediately proceed to the border checkpoint and it is prohibited to stop on the way. So vessels staying at the anchorage located beyond the limits of the border checkpoint violates the state border law which is punishable by a fine to be impose on a master (several thousands of rubles) or on a ship owner in case of repeated violations by its vessels (about RUB 500,000). 

The sources of IAA PortNews emphasize the absence of claims from the state regulators in such cases for almost 15 years. 

Therefore, vessels bound for the ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk are currently recommended by agents and ship owners to wait for the ports’ berths to become available beyond the border of the Russian Federation. However, there are no anchorage facilities beyond the RF border which can adversely affect the safety of shipping in the Gulf of Finland. 

IAA PortNews will ask the state authorities to comment on this problem settlement.