EU Court annuls total removal of Russian Maritime Register's status, but sanctions and port bans remain in effect.
The General Court of the European Union annulled the complete removal of the recognition status of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) in Europe, deeming it disproportionate. However, financial sanctions against the Russian entity and the ban on the entry of the ships it certifies into EU ports will remain in effect.
The General Court of the European Union made a significant ruling regarding maritime sanctions against Russia. In a decision announced on November 4, 2026, in Luxembourg, the regulation concerning the complete withdrawal of the recognition of the Russian state-owned Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) by the European Union was annulled.
In case T-535/24, the court found that most of the sanctions imposed by the EU Council on the Russian entity were lawful, while it assessed the permanent removal of the entity's recognition status in the fields of ship inspection, surveying, and certification as an excessive measure.
Court: Suspension of recognition could have been sufficient
According to the court's assessment, instead of completely withdrawing the recognition of the Russian Maritime Register by the European Union, a temporary suspension could have been sufficient to achieve the objectives targeted by the sanctions.
The ruling stated that in the event of a complete withdrawal of recognition, even if the sanctions were to end, the Russian entity would have to undergo an application process to be recognized again by the European Union. Furthermore, the entity does not have the right to initiate this process directly, nor is there a guarantee of its re-recognition.
For this reason, the court ruled that a measure resulting in permanent consequences was disproportionate in terms of temporary sanctions.
Port ban on Russian-classed ships continues
The ruling does not mean that all sanctions against the Russian Maritime Register have been lifted.
The court upheld the investment ban and restrictions on commercial transactions concerning the entity. The application against the regulation that prevents ships certified by RMRS from entering European Union ports and canal basins was not accepted on procedural grounds.
The court noted that the port ban directly affects the ships and ship operators, while the legal status of the classification entity is only indirectly concerned.
Thus, the EU port restrictions on ships certified by the Russian entity remain in effect.
Sanctions were expanded in 2022
Based in St. Petersburg and wholly owned by the Russian state, RMRS provides classification, technical inspection, and certification services for Russian and foreign-flagged vessels.
Recognized by the European Union in 1998, the entity was able to conduct inspection and certification activities on vessels flying the flags of these countries with the authorization of member states.
Following Russia's military operation against Ukraine, sanctions were expanded in 2022, imposing financial restrictions on RMRS, withdrawing its recognition by the European Union, and imposing a port ban on the ships it certifies.
The decision will not take effect immediately
The court ruled that the effects of the annulled regulation should be maintained for a maximum of two months and ten days from the date of the decision to prevent legal uncertainty.
Additionally, an equivalent regulation in the sanctions regulation is still in effect. Therefore, the court's decision does not mean that RMRS can immediately resume inspection and certification activities in EU countries.
An appeal can be made against the decision, limited to legal issues.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
