Headlines

Biden bans Russia-affiliated ships in US ports

Joe Biden, US President

The President of the United States of America (USA), Joe Biden, has announced a ban on Russia-affiliated ships in US ports after meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Washington.

As part of further sanctions, US President Joe Biden said the US will ban Russia-affiliated vessels from US ports

President Biden’s move follows that of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who announced a port ban on Russian vessels citing ’atrocities’ of the Russian war in Ukraine.

“Today, I’m announcing the United States will ban Russia-affiliated ships from our ports, as they did in Europe,” President Biden said in remarks following his meeting with the Ukrainian Prime Minister.

“That means no ship — no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by Russian interests will be allowed to dock in a United States port or access our shores. None. None,” President Biden said.

The US president said the move is “another critical step” with partners in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada and beyond “to deny Russia the benefits of the international economic system they so enjoyed in the past”.

President Biden said the US Treasury had enacted further sanctions and related measures to enforce sanctions.

The US Government has provided US$1Bn in support to Ukraine over the last two months, the president said.

New EU sanctions against Russia include a port ban.

The United Kingdom has also closed its ports to Russian vessels.

The EU has also called for a broader ban on Russia.

The EU is also to double down on renewables and hydrogen and diversify to rid itself of Russian gas.

The EU announced the fifth round of sanctions against Russia including a port ban on Russian vessels, without a set timeline for when they will come into force.Russia-operated vessels, with some exceptions, will be banned from EU ports, and the EU trading block will no longer import coal from Russia, cutting an estimated €4Bn (US$4.36Bn) per year from Russian coffers.

Announcing the sanctions, President von der Leyen said the “ban on Russian vessels and Russia-operated vessels from accessing EU ports” came in response to Russia’s “cruel and ruthless war” against Ukraine.

The UK announced a ban on Russia-linked vessels coming into its ports in early March but has been slow in setting out clear directions on how to implement the ban, pushing responsibility on to port authorities to identify and refuse vessels even when highly complex ownership structures can make isolating ties to Russian interests difficult.

The European Commission has proposed a draft plan to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuels “well before 2030,” starting with gas, in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The draft plan was announced in early March on the same day the US committed to a total embargo on Russian energy and the UK announced a phase-out of Russian oil and gas to be complete by the end of 2022.

Both US and UK imports of Russian energy supplies make up a far smaller percentage than those taken by the EU.

Related Topics:featured US bans Russian ships

Up Next

IMO mandates member-states to introduce Electronic Information between ships and ports

Don't Miss

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, dies at 83.

Click to comment

Customs

Group confers “continental” award on Adeniyi over customs’ phenomenal revenue record

Adeniyi, CGC

Funso OLOJO

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, C.G.C Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, has been nominated and approved to be honoured with “The Continent Man of The Year 2024” Award by Board of Editors and Publishers of Continent magazine.

This resolution was announced by the spokesman of the group, Mr David Oladimeji, at the end of group’s meeting held on Friday, September 13th, 2024 in Abuja.

The meeting was organized by” The Continent “Magazine to deliberate on a personality and organisation deserving of the Award.

The Board’s attention was drawn to the statement made recently by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) and sitting Governor of Anambra state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo,who told his constituents in Awka that the Customs and F.I.R.S have sustained the nation’s economy from collapse since February this year, when the NNPCL stopped remittance of statutory revenue to the Federation Account for onward disbursements to the three tiers of governments.

Oladimeji said “the Board noted that this is not an easy task to be achieved under the astute and dedicated leadership of C.G.C Adeniyi, considering the fact that the Customs and it’s officers have been perceived by the public as corrupt and fraudulent”

” In a bid to commend and encourage leaders of the customs and F.I.R.S as well as their lieutenants not to rest on their oars, the Board resolved to honour the C.G.C, his Command Controllers and Revenue Collectors who had made significant sacrifices and excelled in their national anti-smuggling, revenue collection assignments with “The Continent Man of The Year” and “Pillars of Nigerian Economy 2024″ Awards”

As plans are geared towards the celebration of the international and national icons at a date to be announced soon, “The Continent” special edition will publish the profile and achievements of the deserving recipients that earned them recognition and honour.

Headlines

NIMASA secures support of Bank of Industry for enhanced capacity building in maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has broker a partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to enhance its capacity building effort in the maritime industry.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by the Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, made this disclosure during a visit by the Management of the Bank of Industry, led by Executive Director of Large Enterprises, Mrs. Ifeoma Uz’Okpala.

He stated, “In addition to safety, security, and maritime labor, the Agency’s mandate encompasses capacity development aimed at growing the sector.”

He also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaboration as a vital tool for achieving its mandate.

“The aim is to actualize the vision of the Federal Government to reposition the maritime sector, especially with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy”, he said.

On her part, the Executive Director of Large Enterprises at BOI, Mrs. Uz’Okpala, affirmed the Bank’s readiness to support NIMASA.

She also emphasized the importance of collaboration in implementing a robust capacity-building initiative that will contribute to economic growth in Nigeria.

Bank of Industry Limited is Nigeria’s oldest and largest Development Finance Institution (DFI) currently in operation.

It is owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Nigeria (94.80%), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (5.19%) and private shareholders (0.01%)

Headlines

NIMASA secures support of Bank of Industry for enhanced capacity building in maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has broker a partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to enhance its capacity building effort in the maritime industry.

He stated, “In addition to safety, security, and maritime labor, the Agency’s mandate encompasses capacity development aimed at growing the sector.”

He also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to collaboration as a vital tool for achieving its mandate.

“The aim is to actualize the vision of the Federal Government to reposition the maritime sector, especially with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy”, he said.

On her part, the Executive Director of Large Enterprises at BOI, Mrs. Uz’Okpala, affirmed the Bank’s readiness to support NIMASA.

She also emphasized the importance of collaboration in implementing a robust capacity-building initiative that will contribute to economic growth in Nigeria.

Bank of Industry Limited is Nigeria’s oldest and largest Development Finance Institution (DFI) currently in operation.

It is owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Nigeria (94.80%), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (5.19%) and private shareholders (0.01%).