What has changed
The international insurance club American Club, which unites shipowners and fleet operators, has circulated a notice to its clients about new risks when calling at Russian ports. The trigger was the expanded rules for admitting foreign ships to Russian waters, which came into force on 25 November.
The key change is that every foreign-flagged vessel requesting entry to a Russian port must now obtain a permit from the Federal Security Service (FSB). What used to be handled largely at port and border control level is now formalised and tightly linked to FSB vetting procedures.
How the procedure now works
Under the new requirements, port administrations are obliged, within one hour of receiving a vessel’s request, to send a data package to the FSB, including information on the ship’s last ten ports of call. This triggers the security review.
According to American Club’s estimates, the FSB’s review itself may take up to 48 hours. But that is only part of the story: on top of this come internal approvals and document exchanges between the port, the shipowner, the agent and the security authorities. As a result, the full cycle — from application to final clearance — can stretch to around 53 hours even if no underwater hull inspection is required.
It is important to note that this estimate does not include:
- potential underwater or additional inspections of the vessel’s hull;
- tugboat waiting times;
- anchorage queues and the need to align with terminal schedules.
If an inspection is ordered, the delay inevitably grows longer and becomes less predictable.
Economic impact on shipowners
The new regime affects two key parameters of fleet operations: time and cost.
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Turnaround time.
Any extra control step — especially one adding one and a half to two days — disrupts voyage schedules:- port loading/unloading windows become harder to meet;
- demurrage and other penalties under charter parties are more likely;
- some owners may build a “risk premium” for uncertainty into freight rates, pushing transport costs up for shippers.
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Direct additional expenses.
The rules explicitly allow port operators to claim reimbursement of inspection costs from shipowners, including:- underwater hull surveys;
- services of specialised contractors and equipment;
- extra safety and security-related fees.
For vessels operating on low-margin cargoes (for example, bulk commodities), these costs can make calls at Russian ports less attractive economically, especially where alternative routes exist.
Risks for supply chains
Delays of 48–53 hours at port entry are more than just an inconvenience for an individual ship. For complex logistics chains they can translate into:
- missed connections with rail and road segments;
- slower export flows, if a Russian port is a critical hub;
- fleet build-up at anchorage, when checks drag on for several ships at once.
For cargo owners, particularly in energy and agriculture, this means higher operational risk: late deliveries, financial losses from failing to meet contractual deadlines, and possible penalties from end buyers.
Political and security context
The tightening of foreign-vessel admission rules fits into a broader trend of increased control over maritime traffic in Russian waters. For the authorities it is a tool to:
- scrutinise ships’ origins and routes more closely;
- filter out vessels linked to “shadow fleets” and sanctions evasion;
- quickly block port access for ships seen as suspicious.
From the state’s perspective, adding a bureaucratic layer looks like an upgrade to security. From the shipping industry’s perspective, it is another source of uncertainty that must be factored into voyage planning and insurance.
What happens next
Judging by American Club’s reaction, shipping companies and their insurers have already started to factor the new timelines and costs into their planning. In the short term, the market is likely to adapt at the expense of longer and more expensive logistics. Over the longer term, some operators may reallocate tonnage and cut the share of Russian calls if the risks and costs prove excessive.
For market participants, the signal is clear: working with Russian ports is becoming more tightly regulated and requires more time and financial reserves than just a few months ago.