On March 25, Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Maritime Board, announced that the Russian Navy ensures safety of navigation for vessels carrying cargo in the interests of the Russian Federation.
“The Navy ensures the safety of navigation according to the object and zonal principles. Control over vessels carrying out cargo transportation in the interests of our country has been strengthened,” Patrushev stated at a board meeting.
Additionally, Patrushev noted that port captains can request escorts for Russian ships by mobile firing groups. The Chairman of the Maritime Board also revealed the creation of instructions to facilitate operational communication between shipowners and ship operators with port administrations and the Navy. He further assured measures have been implemented to promptly report illegal actions targeting the merchant fleet of the Russian Federation.
In a separate statement on February 17, Patrushev warned that Russia was developing countermeasures against Western seizures of ships in international waters. According to him, without a “tough rebuff,” Western countries would soon attempt to block Russia’s access to the Atlantic basin.
On March 18, Patrushev reiterated that the Russian Federation is implementing measures to ensure navigation safety, noting diplomatic solutions alone are insufficient to counter the campaign against Russian ships.
