The Georgian Maritime Transport Agency has responded to the new sanctions announced by the United Kingdom in June 2026, under which the vessel SILVAR (IMO 9291262) was added to the sanctions list.

According to the Agency, the vessel was present at the Port of Kulevi in February 2026, and during the period of its operations it was not subject to sanctions under the regimes of the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, or the United Nations.

“Accordingly, it is unclear what purpose is served by mentioning Georgia in the information disseminated by the United Kingdom Embassy, given that at the time the vessel entered and operated in Georgia, no international sanctions were in force against it, and all competent Georgian authorities acted in full compliance with applicable national legislation and international obligations.

Prior to the vessel’s arrival in Georgia, the competent Georgian authorities conducted a multi-layered sanctions and legal review in accordance with applicable legislation and established procedures. The review found no active international sanctions or legal restrictions against the vessel, its owner, operator, or any other related parties.

At that time, SILVAR was sailing under the Panamanian flag, held a valid classification certificate issued by Lloyd’s Register (United Kingdom), maintained valid P&I and Hull & Machinery insurance coverage, and its registered owner and technical manager were fully identified.

It is particularly noteworthy that on December 5, 2025, the vessel underwent a Port State Control (PSC) inspection under the Paris MoU framework in the Skagen anchorage area of the Kingdom of Denmark. The inspection resulted in only four minor observations and no detention, confirming the vessel’s compliance with international maritime safety and technical oversight requirements.

The vessel’s navigation history also indicates that it operated on regular international maritime trade routes and visited European, Asian, and African ports and anchorage areas, including Malta, Denmark (Skagen), Egypt, Malaysia, India, China, and other destinations.

The Georgian Maritime Transport Agency once again emphasizes that the entry of any vessel into Georgian ports is subject to strict legal, sanctions-related, and security controls. Georgia neither is nor can become a platform for circumventing international sanctions, and all decisions are made solely on the basis of the legal and factual circumstances applicable at the relevant time under international law.

The effectiveness of international sanctions is based precisely on the principles of legal certainty and temporal applicability. Therefore, it is unacceptable to assess the activities of a vessel or company on the basis of sanctions that were imposed several months after its presence in Georgia,” the statement reads.