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A Russian ship under sanctions for transporting arms from North Korea is set to enter the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, marking the first time a vessel involved in arms-running for Pyongyang would enter European waters.
The Maia-1, a Russian-flagged ship under sanctions by the US and EU, is currently anchored outside the south entrance to the Suez Canal, according to Open Source Centre. The ship’s destination is a port on the Baltic coast of Russia where a liquefied natural gas facility is being built.
The Maia-1, owned by a company under multiple sanctions, has made several trips to North Korea, according to OSC. The ship’s involvement in shipping North Korean munitions to Russia has led to its sanctioning by several governments.
Joe Byrne, a senior OSC analyst, stated, “The Maia-1 is a vessel which has been named by the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea, and sanctioned by several governments for its involvement in shipping North Korean munitions to Russia.”
The arrival of the Maia-1 in European waters poses a challenge to the continent’s sanctions system and its resolve to take action, especially as European leaders consider their stance on supporting Ukraine and disrupting the Russian economy.
The Maia-1 began its journey in Vladivostok before picking up cargo near Shanghai. Satellite imagery shows the vessel being loaded with objects at a port in China, covered in tarpaulins for the journey.
The ship’s final destination is Ust-Luga, a Baltic Sea port where a LNG terminal is being constructed despite sanctions affecting Russia’s access to gas liquefaction equipment.
Russia’s LNG projects have faced delays and challenges due to sanctions imposed by the US, affecting its ability to acquire necessary equipment.
The Suez Canal allows freedom of navigation to all vessels under the Constantinople Convention treaty of 1888, but vessels lacking suitable insurance can be stopped from transiting, posing a hurdle for vessels under sanctions like the Maia-1.
Cartography by Steven Bernard