United Kingdom (OFSI) — Sanctioned Vessels, Guidance & Recent Actions

The UK targets vessels linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine through two tracks: (1) transport sanctions (e.g., banning Russian-connected ships from UK ports) and (2) Price Cap rules that restrict UK maritime services (insurance, broking, financing, etc.) for Russian oil shipped above the G7/EU cap. Beginning in mid-2024, the UK also started listing individual vessels as “specified ships” on the UK Sanctions List, with multiple large waves in 2024–2025.

Quick history

• Mar 2022 — port/transport ban. The UK announced transport sanctions banning Russian-connected ships from UK ports and enabling detention of such vessels. See UK government notices on the Russia sanctions regime and transport measures.
  UK Russia sanctions (collection) ·
  Transport sanctions (Apr 21, 2022)
• Dec 5, 2022 / Feb 5, 2023 — Price Cap goes live. UK introduced the Maritime Services Ban with a price-cap exception (crude from Dec; refined from Feb). UK services are permitted only if the price is at or below the cap, with due-diligence/attestation expectations for the shipping ecosystem.
  OFSI price-cap guidance ·
  OFSI Annual Review 2022–23
• Jun 13, 2024 — first “specified ships.” The UK Sanctions List records the first six ship specifications under the Russia regime (“specified ships”).
  UK Sanctions List — 2024 changes (Jun 13 2024)
• Sep 11, 2024 — five tankers specified. UK sanctioned five tankers “used by Russia to circumvent and undermine sanctions,” noting it was the third time the UK used its bespoke powers to sanction individual vessels.
  Press release
• 2025 — multiple large waves. The UK list shows repeated additions of “specified ships,” including waves on 24 Feb (6), 9 May (101), 10 Jun (18), and 17 Jun (20), among others.
  UK Sanctions List — 2025 changes

Triggers & patterns the UK targets

• Price-cap evasion & deceptive practices: above-cap Russian oil shipments; spoofed/disengaged AIS; opaque/rapidly changing ownership and insurance; abnormal STS transfers, especially in high-risk waters; falsified paperwork and misdeclared cargo/origin.
• Support to Russia’s war economy: networks, logistics and financial enablers tied to the Russian energy trade and military-industrial base.

What UK measures entail (consequences)

• Transport sanctions: ships owned/controlled/chartered/operated by Russian-connected persons are prohibited from entering UK ports; detention powers may apply.
  Transport sanctions (DfT)
• Price-cap compliance duties: UK persons (and UK-linked firms) face prohibitions on maritime services for above-cap cargoes and must follow attestation/record-keeping guidance.
  OFSI price-cap guidance
• “Specified ship” listings: individually listed vessels appear on the UK Sanctions List; dealings by UK persons are restricted, UK services are generally prohibited, and counterparties globally treat these ships as high-risk.
  UK Sanctions List — changes

Who needs to pay attention

• Shipowners/beneficial owners, operators/managers (technical & crewing), charterers and brokers.
• Insurers/P&I clubs, class societies, flag registries, port agents, bunker suppliers, terminals/pilots.
• Commodity traders, banks/financiers, and payment providers exposed to the Russian energy trade.
• Any counterparty providing UK-linked maritime services under the Price Cap attestation regime.