The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia has responded to the statement by the British Embassy, noting that it takes note of the new sanctions announced by London in June 2026, under which the vessel SILVAR (IMO 9291262) was added to the sanctions list.
According to the agency, the SILVAR was in the port of Kulevi in February 2026; however, at the time of its entry into the port and operations in Georgia, the vessel was not subject to sanctions by London, the EU, the US, or the UN.
“Accordingly, it remains unclear why Georgia was mentioned in the information released by the British Embassy, given that at the time of the vessel’s entry into Georgia and its operations in the country, no international sanctions were active against it, and all competent Georgian authorities acted in full compliance with applicable national legislation and international obligations,” the statement emphasized.
The Maritime Transport Agency states that prior to the arrival of the vessel SILVAR in Georgia, the country’s competent authorities conducted a comprehensive review regarding sanctions, and no restrictions were recorded against the vessel, its owner, operator, or any other related parties.
“During the relevant period, the vessel SILVAR sailed under the flag of Panama, held a valid class certificate issued by Lloyd’s Register (UK), possessed active Protection and Indemnity (P&I) and hull and machinery insurance coverage, and had fully verified and registered ownership and technical management arrangements.
It is particularly noteworthy that on December 5, 2025, the vessel underwent a Port State Control (PSC) inspection in accordance with the Paris Memorandum of Understanding regime in the Skagen anchorage area (Kingdom of Denmark). Following the inspection, only four minor deficiencies were recorded, and the vessel was not detained, confirming its compliance with applicable international requirements in maritime safety and technical supervision.
The vessel’s operational history also indicates that it operated on regular international commercial maritime routes and called at a number of European, Asian, and African ports and anchorages, including Malta, Denmark (Skagen), Egypt, Malaysia, India, China, and other destinations,” the agency points out.
The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia emphasizes that the entry of any vessel into Georgian ports is strictly vetted to determine whether it is subject to sanctions.
“Georgia does not and will not serve as a platform for circumventing international sanctions. All decisions are made solely on the basis of legal and factual circumstances applicable at the relevant point in time, in accordance with international law and practice.
The effectiveness of international sanctions regimes is based on the principles of legal certainty and temporal applicability. Therefore, it is inappropriate to evaluate the activities of a vessel or company based on sanctions that were introduced several months after the vessel’s stay and operation in Georgia,” the Maritime Transport Agency stated.
Notably, speaking of London’s sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet”, as well as those aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin in the war against Ukraine, the British Embassy wrote in its statement:
“The sanctions also targeted the vessel SILVAR, which entered a Georgian port earlier this year.”
