State-owned Russian oil tanker scheduled to visit Flotta

Sanctions on Russian oil tankers visiting Orkney must be made by the UK Government, the islands council has said, ahead of a scheduled visit by a Kremlin-backed ship.

The tanker, NS Champion, is due to berth at Flotta Jetty on March 1.

The 244-metre Liberian-flagged ship belongs to state-owned Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company, and one of the global leaders in the transporting oil and gas around the world.

It has left Birkenhead in Liverpool and is now making its way towards Flotta, sailing up the west coast.

A series of sanctions against Russia have been introduced following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

A spokeswoman from Orkney Islands Council said: “Like others we have been watching the scenes unfold in Ukraine with horror — and our thoughts are with those affected by this terrible situation.

“Orkney Islands Council has no role in applying sanctions, and all decisions are made by the UK Government.

“We understand that the British Ports Association are in touch with the UK Government following the Russian intervention into Ukraine and the introduction of certain sanctions on Russia.

“They’ve advised that there are currently no new requirements for Russian ships arriving at UK ports — that position may of course change as the situation develops and we will react accordingly.”

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has voiced concern surrounding ongoing Russian access to the UK economy.

In highlighting the presence of another Sovcomflot-owned tanker, NS Challenger, at Sullem Voe in Shetland on Thursday, Mr Carmichael secured a commitment from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to look into Russian oil tanker access to North Sea terminals.

Speaking on Thursday in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael said that he could not “think of a good answer” in response to constituents asking him why should oil be loaded on to a Russian tanker while troops were invading Ukraine.

He said: “Can the Prime Minister tell me, will anything that he has announced today ensure that this will not happen again in the future?”

Mr Johnson responded by saying: “I will of course immediately investigate what is happening with the Sovcomflot tanker but the result of the measures passed by the House the other day is that we can target any company, any entity that has a relation with the Russian state.”

Speaking earlier in the day, Mr Carmichael said that the visit of such tankers to terminals sent out “the wrong signals” amid horrifying scenes in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for the operators of the Flotta Oil Terminal, Repsol Sinopec, said: “We can confirm NS Champion is due to arrive at the Flotta Terminal on March 1, and understand the vessel is run by SCF Group.

“We are liaising with regulatory authorities regarding the appropriate provision of access to facilities.”