Dutch dockworkers refused to unload a tanker containing a cargo of Russian diesel in Amsterdam on Saturday, a day after a similar action prevented the ship from docking in Rotterdam. The Sunny Liger, a 42,000 tonne tanker, is currently at anchor off Amsterdam. On Friday, dockworkers at the port of Rotterdam also refused to process its cargo.
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“Late last night we asked all parts of the Port of Amsterdam not to let the ship docksaid Asmae Hajjari, president of the port workers’ section of the FNV union. “The ship will not enter the port of Amsterdam“, she added in a tweet. The Sunny Liger departed a week ago from Primorsk, near St. Petersburg, and the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker’s final destination was Amsterdam, according to maritime website MarineTraffic.com.
“At the moment, the ship is at anchor in the North Sea. So far he has not requested permission to enter the portsaid Marcella Wesseling, spokesperson for the Port of Amsterdam. “In principle, we cannot refuse him entry because he does not fall under the sanctions regime (against Russia)“, she explained to AFP. A company tasked with towing the ship into port, however, said it would refuse to do so if asked, saying it could lead to a dangerous situation if protesters wanted to block the boat from entering, the channel reported. television station RTL New.
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“Service providers and the port terminal have indicated they have safety concerns surrounding the handling of this vessel“, underlined Marcella Wesseling. The European Union has imposed tough sanctions on Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, but oil and gas are currently exempt. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Friday the Sunny Liger could not legally be refused entry to a Dutch port, but supported the actions of the dockworkers.