UK discloses January sanctions action ordering Russian cargo vessel Sinegorsk out of British waters

LONDON, August 27, 2026 — The UK government on Thursday published details of a sanctions enforcement action taken seven months earlier against the Russian-flagged cargo vessel Sinegorsk, which was ordered to leave British internal waters after anchoring there for repairs.

The Department for Transport and Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the movement direction was issued on Jan. 28, 2026, under Regulation 57C of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The enforcement action itself had not been publicly detailed until Aug. 27.

According to the newly published notice, Sinegorsk contacted HM Coastguard at about 9:47 a.m. on Jan. 27 after reporting a small hull defect. The vessel said adverse weather meant it intended to anchor in a sheltered area of UK waters to make repairs. Authorities monitored the vessel as it entered the UK territorial sea.

In the early hours of Jan. 28, the vessel anchored at Blue Bay Anchorage, an area classified as UK internal waters. The Centre for Transport Sanctions subsequently investigated the vessel and concluded that it was Russian-flagged and registered, and operated by a company incorporated in Russia.

Those factors brought Sinegorsk within the scope of UK transport sanctions and allowed the transport secretary to exercise discretionary powers to direct its movement, the government said.

HM Coastguard issued the direction on behalf of the transport secretary at 12:47 p.m. on Jan. 28, transmitting it by radio and email. Sinegorsk acknowledged the instruction and left UK territorial waters shortly afterward.

The government did not announce a financial penalty or detention of the vessel. Instead, the enforcement action required Sinegorsk to proceed to the destination specified by authorities and then leave the UK's territorial sea.

Britain introduced extensive shipping restrictions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The measures can restrict vessels linked to Russia from accessing UK ports or registering on the UK ship register and give ministers powers to issue detention and movement directions against vessels falling within the sanctions regime.