The Ukraine authorities have notified, that any foreign seafarer, sailing on a vessel to a port in Crimea, cannot visit Ukraine for the ensuing 3 years.
The reason is Ukrainian Security Service, are not operating checkpoints at sea ports in Crimea and the entry into the occupied territory by sea is deemed illegal. According to West England marine insurer, this causes distress among seafarers on a different vessel and which not itself called Crimean ports.
It is also not clear as to how the Ukraine authorities will obtain information about individual seafarers, sailing to Crimean ports. The punishment is with a fine or administrative imprisonment for 15 days, if any of the seafarer tries to enter Ukraine.
Previously, the Ukrainian territory was annexed by the Russian Federation and was governed by Russia. It was in May 2014; Ukraine authorities closed all the ports in the vicinity of the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for the purpose of international shipping. The decision on closing the ports relates to the ports Evpatoria, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia, and Yalta.
Source: Ships & Ports
