Following a fourth package of sanctions against Russia by the EU on the 15 March 2022, the Swedish Dockworkers Union has given notice about nationwide blockade against Russian ships and cargo.
The statement of the Swedish Dockworkers Union is the following:
“The Swedish Dockworkers Union has given notice to the employers’ organization Ports of Sweden about upcoming industrial action against ships going to and from Russia as well as Russian cargo in all Swedish ports.
The solidarity action will be carried out to support the dockworkers and the suffering working class in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion.
Swedish dockworkers will not handle any ships going to and from Russia, ships carrying Russian import and export cargo and vessels registered as Russian.
- The Putin regime’s brutal use of force against Ukrainian civil society has closed the ports. The bombing of Odessa, the occupation of Kherson and the ongoing deadly siege on Mariupol is causing unspeakable suffering on the ground, says SDU’s national chairman Martin Berg.
- “Business as usual” is no longer possible. We have waited for effective sanctions from the state or the EU blocking Swedish ports for Russian interests at this point, but time has run out. Our members want to do what little we can to contribute to an end to the Russian invasion and a reopening of Ukrainian ports.”
In the meantime, NATO and EU allies continue to make additions to the designated entities lists so all the members can ensure that they carry out careful examination and inspections using the updated lists.
It should be recalled that the economic sanctions targeting Russia continue to evolve and escalate with many being coordinated among the EU, UK, US, and their allies including sanctions against President Putin and the Central Bank of Russia. Standard Club’s experts Mrs. Ursula O’Donnell and Mrs. Gina Venezia provide a summary of some of the recent actions.
On 5 March 2022, the Singapore government imposed sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Also, International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) voted to expel the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping from their ranks.
