Bangladesh denies berth to Russian ship under US sanctions

A Russian ship carrying goods for Bangladesh’s lone nuclear power plant has been denied berth by Bangladesh shipping authorities as the vessel is under the US sanctions.

The Russian vessel called Ursa Major, which left St. Petersburg port of Russia on Nov. 14, had changed its name to Sparta-3 as it had come under the US sanction over the Ukraine war.

The vessel was supposed to reach Bangladesh on Dec. 24. But on Dec. 20, the US Embassy in a diplomatic letter informed Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Russian flagship had changed its name to Sparta-3.

In the letter, the US Embassy said that any kind of cooperation with sanctioned ships would invite the risk of falling under the US sanctions or large financial penalties.

Md. Mostafa Kamal, Shipping Ministry’s secretary, told Anadolu Agency on Friday that they are aware of it (US sanctions) and will not allow the berthing of the vessel.

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The Russian flagship did not come close to the Mongla seaport, he claimed.

About the latest location of the ship, he said that they talked with a Singaporean agent of the ship but didn't know the exact location of it as of Friday.

According to information published on the website of Marine Traffic, a non-governmental organisation involved in monitoring the position of seagoing ships and maritime safety, the ship was staying in the Bay of Bengal till Thursday.

As the vessel with goods for the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) was denied berth at Bangladesh’s second-largest Mongla seaport, the Russian Embassy held a meeting with Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, and Ministry of Science and Technology.

Bangladesh, however, conveyed its stance of not allowing any vessel under US sanctions.

"We have to honor the sanctions," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told local business daily The Financial Express. Ties between the two countries would not be affected due to this decision, he added.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters on Thursday that Bangladesh was not aware of the sanction. “Since we came to know of the embargo, action would be taken accordingly, including finding alternative solutions to unload the goods.”

Chowdhury made the comments following his meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in Dhaka.

In this situation, the goods in the ship would be unloaded at a port in India and then brought to Bangladesh by another ship, according to the Shipping Ministry sources, which added that discussions have started with Russia and India in this regard.

Chowdhury said Bangladesh is giving the highest priority to unloading the goods meant for its lone and biggest mega project Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

The plant, located in the west of the country, is slated to be operational in 2024. The project is being implemented by the state-run Bangladesh Atomic Energy with financial, and technical support from the Russian state-run nuclear agency Rosatom.