No Change in the Sea of Azov: The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for August 2020
Andrii KLYMENKO
Tetyana GUCHAKOVA
Olha KORBUT
The Monitoring Group of BlackSeaNews and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies
The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews wishes to bring to your attention the latest in a series of our monthly studies on Russia's economic war against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov.
1. In August 2020, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 21.2 hours. This figure was almost the same as in July 2020. The yearly average for 2019 was 29.9 hours, in April 2020 – 16.6 hours, in May – 10.1 hours, in June – 11.6 hours, in July – 21.4 hours. See Chart 1.
25% of the vessels entered the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov in a mode that can be considered normal, that is with a delay of 0-6 hours. In June, this proportion was 55.3%, in July – 35.7%.
27 out of 96 vessels (28%) were waiting for permission to pass through the Kerch Strait for 30-77 hours. The examples of the longest delays of vessels bound for the ports of Mariupol or Berdiansk are given in Table 1.
Name of the vessel |
ІМО |
Arrival date/time |
Departure date/time |
Duration. hrs |
Flag | Shipowner’s country |
Destination |
CRISNIK |
8203529 |
30.07 08-00 |
02.08 13-00 |
77 |
Togo |
|
(UA) Berdyansk |
ISLAND BAY |
7528790 |
31.07 04-00 |
01.08 23-00 |
43 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(UA) Mariupol |
SAKAR |
9104811 |
02.08 11-00 |
04.08 00-00 |
37 |
Bulgaria |
Bulgaria |
(UA) Mariupol |
MOHAMMED BEY |
8110411 |
05.08. 03-00 |
07.08 18-00 |
63 |
Belize |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
BAKAN |
9136840 |
07.08 02-00 |
08.08 13-00 |
35 |
Malta |
Turkey |
(UA) Berdyansk |
MEHMET AGA |
8914312 |
07.08 01-00 |
08.08 14-00 |
37 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(UA) Berdyansk |
ANT |
9412311 |
08.08 21-00 |
11.08 18-00 |
69 |
Vanuatu |
Marshall Islands |
(UA) Berdyansk |
F. ARSLAN V |
9139115 |
08.08 19-00 |
10.08 11-00 |
40 |
Antigua and Barbuda |
Germany |
(UA) Mariupol |
SAXONA |
9371024 |
08.08 21-00 |
11.08 19-00 |
70 |
Liberia |
Austria |
(UA) Mariupol |
PEACE |
9553983 |
09.08 06-00 |
10.08 12-00 |
30 |
Bulgaria |
Bulgaria |
(UA) Mariupol |
DOST-1 |
9001148 |
09.08 05-00 |
11.08 18-00 |
61 |
Cook islands |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
MEHMET DADAYLI-1 |
9352157 |
09.08 21-00 |
11.08 18-00 |
45 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
ARMONIA |
9017628 |
09.08 13-00 |
11.08 18-00 |
53 |
Panama |
Greece |
(UA) Berdyansk |
NIKITI II |
9197064 |
10.08 02-00 |
11.08 12-00 |
34 |
Panama |
Greece |
(UA) Mariupol |
BEHCET C |
9503744 |
10.08 04-00 |
11.08 20-00 |
40 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
CARINA |
8908545 |
10.08 06-00 |
11.08 17-00 |
35 |
Dominica |
Malta |
(UA) Berdyansk |
UNI - K |
9159579 |
11.08 06-00 |
13.08 21-00 |
63 |
Togo |
Egypt |
(UA) Berdyansk |
ADAM A |
7916997 |
12.08 02-00 |
13.08 15-00 |
37 |
Sierra Leone |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
VALMIERA |
8203660 |
12.08 17-00 |
14.08 11-00 |
44 |
Palau |
Marshall Isl |
(UA) Berdyansk |
MOHAC |
9251042 |
14.08 16-00 |
16.08 02-00 |
34 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
SEA GLORY |
8209626 |
20.08 19-00 |
22.08 14-00 |
41 |
Palau |
Egypt |
(UA) Berdyansk |
SEA BREEZE |
8915184 |
22.08 15-00 |
24.08 13-00 |
46 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(UA) Mariupol |
GLORIA 1905 |
9148233 |
23.08 06-00 |
24.08 13-00 |
31 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(UA) Mariupol |
AK PIONEER |
9189718 |
23.08 06-00 |
24.08 12-00 |
30 |
Panama |
Greece |
(UA) Mariupol |
JOY M |
8902931 |
24.08 12-00 |
25.08 18-00 |
30 |
Panama |
Romania |
(UA) Mariupol |
BRAVE WARRIOR |
7208728 |
29.08 20-00 |
31.08 22-00 |
50 |
Lebanon |
Lebanon |
(UA) Berdyansk |
ICEL |
8105428 |
30.08 14-00 |
01.09 03-00 |
35 |
Moldova |
Greece |
(UA) Mariupol |
2. In August 2020, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 27.8 hours. That was slightly less than in July. The yearly average for 2019 was 37.4 hours, in April 2020 – 19.9 hours, in May – 14.5 hours, in June – 14.8 hours, in July – 35.3 hours. See Chart 2.
50 vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk (37.9%) were waiting for permission to pass through the Kerch Strait for 30-106 hours. The examples of the longest delays of vessels going from the ports of Mariupol or Berdiansk are given in Table 2.
Name of the vessel |
ІМО |
Arrival date/time |
Departure date/time |
Duration. hrs |
Flag | Shipowner’s country |
Destination |
ATA 2 |
9387669 |
01.08 12-00 |
03.08 09-00 |
45 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(IT) Brindisi |
MEGA SUN |
8308006 |
31.07 22-00 |
02.08 22-00 |
48 |
Turkey |
Turkey |
(TN) Sfax |
ANNABELLA |
8919788 |
31.07 02-00 |
02.08 21-00 |
67 |
Comoros |
Marshall Is. |
(LB) Khalde |
FK SARAY |
7920261 |
31.07 16-00 |
02.08 21-00 |
53 |
Moldova |
Lebanon |
(EG) Abu Kir |
AKOMENA |
9662485 |
31.07 17-00 |
02.08 23-00 |
54 |
Malta |
Bulgaria |
(DE) Rostock |
ORCUN C |
9499436 |
01.08 11-00 |
03.08 06-00 |
43 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(TR) Aliaga |
BRAVE WARRIOR |
7208728 |
01.08 08-00 |
03.08 06-00 |
46 |
Lebanon |
Lebanon |
(EG) Alexandria |
OMAR TRADER |
7713175 |
04.08 07-00 |
07.08 15-00 |
80 |
Comoros |
Egypt |
(EG) Abu Kir |
SUN S |
9473975 |
04.08 07-00 |
07.08 22-00 |
87 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(NL) Berlicum |
DAYTONA-H |
8520836 |
04.08 10-00 |
07.08 14-00 |
76 |
Comoros |
Lebanon |
(TR) Diliskelesi |
TENACITY |
8819732 |
05.08 15-00 |
07.08 22-00 |
55 |
Comoros |
Lebanon |
(TR) Samsun |
RAHAF MOON |
7721885 |
04.08 14-00 |
07.08 22-00 |
80 |
Togo |
Greece |
(TR) Diliskelesi |
HARMONY S |
9211107 |
05.08 02-00 |
07.08 15-00 |
61 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(IL) Haifa |
SUKRET |
9109550 |
06.08 13-00 |
07.08 22-00 |
33 |
Turkey |
Turkey |
(EG) Alexandria |
SU |
9116084 |
06.08 20-00 |
08.08 10-00 |
38 |
Barbados |
Marshall Islands |
(IL) Haifa |
LUCKY BROTHER |
7917006 |
08.08 06-00 |
11.08 15-00 |
81 |
Palau |
Greece |
(LB) Beirut |
ATA 1 |
9378010 |
09.08 10-00 |
11.08 23-00 |
37 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(TN) Gabes |
ISLAND BAY |
7528790 |
10.08 13-00 |
12.08 00-00 |
35 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(EG) Alexandria |
SELAM |
9418286 |
10.08 00-00 |
11.08 22-00 |
46 |
Malta |
Turkey |
(ES) Cartagena |
FG LEVENT |
9173446 |
09.08 11-00 |
11.08 09-00 |
46 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(GR) Rethymnon |
GRAIN GLORY |
8907577 |
10.08 23-00 |
12.08 17-00 |
42 |
Cook Is. |
Turkey |
(LY) Abu Kammash |
AMADORE |
8520824 |
11.08 05-00 |
12.08 17-00 |
36 |
Malta |
Ukraine |
(TR) Iskenderun |
ANNETTA |
9396543 |
11.08 05-00 |
12.08 17-00 |
36 |
Malta |
Ukraine |
(TR) Eregli |
FEDERAL BEAUFORT |
9697818 |
09.08 01-00 |
11.08 14-00 |
61 |
Marshall Is. |
Canada |
(GB) Barton |
TAILWIND |
8908868 |
10.08 08-00 |
12.08 00-00 |
40 |
Liberia |
Estonia |
(UA) Odessa |
TEVFIK BEY |
9383326 |
09.08 15-00 |
10.08 15-00 |
24 |
Malta |
Turkey |
(IL) Haifa |
SEA LORD |
8314885 |
11.08 13-00 |
12.08 19-00 |
30 |
Belize |
Marshall Is. |
(IT) Ravenna |
NS ANGELA |
9071076 |
12.08 14-00 |
14.08 14-00 |
48 |
Panama |
Albania |
(EG) Alexandria |
CRISNIK |
8203529 |
11.08 00-00 |
12.08 10-00 |
34 |
Togo |
|
(TR) Mersin |
LILY-HA |
8116972 |
14.08 03-00 |
15.08 18-00 |
39 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(LY) Bingazi |
ANT |
9412311 |
16.08 02-00 |
17.08 11-00 |
33 |
Vanuatu |
Marshall Islands |
(TR) Ambarli |
UMIT G |
9041124 |
18.08 11-00 |
19.08 17-00 |
30 |
Turkey |
Turkey |
(TR) Mersin |
JASMIN QUEEN |
9109861 |
19.08 04-00 |
20.08 16-00 |
36 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(LB) Beirut |
LADY SPERANZA |
9200574 |
21.08 07-00 |
22.08 18-00 |
35 |
Barbados |
Lebanon |
(LY) Tripoli |
ADAM A |
7916997 |
21.08 09-00 |
23.08 09-00 |
48 |
Sierra Leone |
Turkey |
(EG) Alexandria |
MAR BIANCO |
8115576 |
22.08 06-00 |
26.08 16-00 |
106 |
Moldova |
Egypt |
(LB) Tripoli |
NACI SELIMOGLU |
9382059 |
22.08 13-00 |
26.08 15-00 |
98 |
Barbados |
Turkey |
(TR) BARTIN |
SIYA |
9442108 |
22.08 01-00 |
23.08 09-00 |
32 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(TR) Iskenderun |
MOHAC |
9251042 |
24.08 03-00 |
27.08 01-00 |
70 |
Panama |
Turkey |
(GR) Kalamaki |
AREL 1 |
9071650 |
25.08 04-00 |
26.08 22-00 |
42 |
Turkey |
Turkey |
(TR) Iskenderun |
ADASUN |
9306445 |
25.08 20-00 |
27.08 22-00 |
50 |
Liberia |
Turkey |
(IL) HAifa |
DAKOTA |
9349980 |
27.08 10-00 |
28.08 17-00 |
31 |
Malta |
Turkey |
(EG) Alexandria |
PHOENIX |
9558490 |
27.08 08-00 |
28.08 18-00 |
34 |
Bulgaria |
Bulgaria |
(IT) Monfalcone |
BRAVE WARRIOR |
7208728 |
29.08 20-00 |
31.08 22-00 |
50 |
Lebanon |
Lebanon |
(TR) Mersin |
JOY M |
8902931 |
31.08 05-00 |
01.09 17-00 |
36 |
Panama |
Romania |
(TR) Iskenderun |
FK SARAY |
7920261 |
30.08 05-00 |
31.08 23-00 |
42 |
Moldova |
Lebanon |
(EG) Alexandria |
ABDULLATIF |
8902929 |
30.08 21-00 |
01.09 17-00 |
44 |
Belize |
Turkey |
(LY) Misurata |
SEA BREEZE |
8915184 |
30.08 05-00 |
01.09 17-00 |
60 |
Togo |
Lebanon |
(TR) Aliaga |
ANGEL M |
8408648 |
30.08 14-00 |
01.09 18-00 |
52 |
Comoros |
Turkey |
(LY) Khoms |
SIFTERI |
9452323 |
30.08 06-00 |
01.09 02-00 |
44 |
Marshall Is |
Georgia |
(TR) Icdas |
From 22 October 2018 to September 2020, there were no open sea detentions of vessels in the Sea of Azov on the move from/to Berdiansk and Mariupol due to the fact that the Ukrainian Navy’s boats were escorting the vessels – see Figure 3.
* * *
Conclusions. The duration of artificial delays of "Mariupol" and "Berdiansk" vessels before obtaining permission to pass through the Kerch Strait in August 2020 confirms our conclusion made last month that the effect of fear of infection with the COVID-19 virus by the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service (which led to a decrease in inspections) is over.
* * *
For reference: the areas where freedom of navigation was violated are marked on the map – see Figure 4.
* * *
This publication has been produced with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of EED. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this publication lies entirely with the authors.
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