The Arbitration Court of the Murmansk Region has upheld Lavna Seaport LLC's EUR8.8 million (US$10.3 million) claim against Latvia's LNK Industries and Germany's Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, reports Saint Petersburg's PortNews.

The claim, filed in spring 2025, sought damages representing advance payments for equipment installation and supervision. The European contractors refused to fulfill obligations under signed contracts due to sanctions and failed to return the funds.

Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions designs and maintains industrial facilities, while LNK Industries builds offshore infrastructure. Both companies denied responsibility, citing EU sanctions. They may appeal the ruling to the Thirteenth Court of Appeal in St Petersburg within one month.

Lavna Seaport's coal terminal in the Murmansk Region began operations in March 2025, with the first shipment attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since its launch, the port has exported 1.4 million tonnes of coal and is 96 percent complete.

The Lavna Coal Handling Complex, designed by Morstroytekhnologiya LLC, is a major Arctic hub with access to the Northern Sea Route. Covering 120 hectares with 15-meter depths, it is part of the Murmansk Transport Hub and will handle coal, oil, and mineral fertilizers. The projected capacity is 18 million tonnes of coal annually, aimed at opening new Asia-Pacific export markets.