Get Russian ship out of Irish waters, says Ward

Dún Laoghaire TD Barry Ward has said Minister Timmy Dooley, the Minister of State with responsibility for Marine Affairs, must directly intervene and ensure the removal of a Russian vessel, the Shtandart, currently at anchor in Killiney Bay.

The ship is an exact replica of the frigate that belonged to Tsar Peter I and is described by the captain as being an ‘active sail training ship’.

All Russian ships are banned from entering EU ports due to sanctions that were imposed on Russian vessels shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“These EU sanctions were put in place in reaction to the appalling atrocities caried out by Vladimir Putin and his administration and if we are to be serious about their implementation, we must adhere to them.

“In recent weeks, this ship was banned from entering a number of French ports including Saint-Malo, which will be familiar to many Irish holidaymakers.

“Going back further, there is an extensive list of European ports that have blocked or sought to block this vessel from entering their waters.

“The formal EU sanctions against Russia are clear and while the Shtandart operates under a Cook Islands flag, this has only been the case since June 2024 and previously sailed under a Russian flag.

“European Union sanctions introduced a port ban on Russia-flagged vessels, and those reflagged after the invasion of Ukraine, in April 2022.

“Many DART commuters will have seen the ship, which is visually striking. However, this ship was built in 1999 and is a replica.

“While this boat is allowed to transition through Irish waters, there is a legal grey area. This ship has a history of declaring false emergencies in order to gain extended access to European ports.

“This includes medical emergency declarations (which would allow it to seek safe harbour) but this must not be allowed to happen in Dún Laoghaire or Dublin.

“The European commission has specifically clarified that this vessel falls under the scope of the sanctions and these sanctions must be upheld.

“I have written to the Minister to ask for his urgent intervention and for this ship to be removed from Irish waters.

“The captain of this ship is showing clear disregard for the EU sanctions and this arrogance and perception of impunity cannot be permitted”, concluded Deputy Ward.