GovWire

What are transport sanctions

Transport sanctions impose restrictions on the ownership, registration, movement and use of ships and aircraft in certain countries. The restrictions are different for each country.

Transport sanctions apply in the following countries.

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK)

• restrictions on the ownership, control, chartering, operation and registration of ships connected with DPRK
• registering a ship in the DPRK or obtaining authorisation to fly the flag of the DPRK is prohibited
• restrictions on the movement of ships, including port entry and exit
• restrictions on DPRK aircraft overflying or landing in the UK

See guidance on the UKs sanction regime relating to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Libya

• designated ships are not permitted to enter UK ports
• an operator or pilot in command of an aircraft carrying restricted goods or armed mercenary personnel bound for Libya must not take off from, overfly or land in the UK

See guidance on the UKs sanction regime relating to Libya.

Republic of Belarus

Sanctions on ships:

• prohibit Belarusian ships, and other ships specified by the Secretary of State, from entering ports in the United Kingdom
• confer powers on the Secretary of State to detain Belarusian ships, or specified ships, at UK ports or anchorages

• confer powers on the Secretary of State to control the movement of Belarusian ships, or specified ships, by requiring them to leave or enter specified ports, proceed to a specified place or remain where they are

• prohibit the registration of ships on the UK Ship Register where they are owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person or persons connected with Belarus, or where they are a specified ship, and confer powers on the Secretary of State to direct the UK Ship Registrar to terminate the registration of such ships
• provide the Secretary of State with the power to specify certain ships

Belarusian ships include:

• ships owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a person connected with Belarus or a designated person
• ships flying the flag of Belarus
• ships registered in Belarus.

Sanctions on aircraft:

• a prohibition on Belarusian aircraft from overflying or landing at airports in the UK
• the power to make directions in respect of the movement of Belarusian aircraft in United Kingdom airspace and at United Kingdom airports, including the power to detain Belarusian aircraft or to prevent such aircraft from taking off, landing at a UK airport or entering UK airspace
• registration of aircraft on the UK Aircraft Register (UKAR) that are owned, chartered or operated by designated persons is prohibited any such aircraft may also be deregistered from the?UKAR

Belarusian aircraft is defined as an aircraft:

• owned, chartered or operated by a designated person, or a person connected with Belarus, or
• registered in Belarus

See guidance on the UKs sanction regime relating to the Republic of Belarus.

Russia

Sanctions on ships:

• prohibit Russian ships, and other ships specified by the Secretary of State, from entering ports in the United Kingdom
• confer powers on the Secretary of State to detain Russian ships, or specified ships, at UK ports or anchorages
• confer powers on the Secretary of State to control the movement of Russian ships, or specified ships, by requiring them to leave or enter specified ports, proceed to a specified place or remain where they are

• prohibit the registration of ships on the UK Ship Register where they are owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person or persons connected with Russia, or where they are a specified ship, and confer powers on the Secretary of State to direct the UK Ship Registrar to terminate the registration of such ships

• provide the Secretary of State with the power to issue directions in relation to the movement of British cruise ships, preventing them from entering any ports located in Crimea, or in the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts
• provide the Secretary of State with the power to specify certain ships

Russian ships include:

• ships owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia or a designated person
• ships flying the flag of Russia
• ships registered in Russia.

Sanctions on aircraft:

• a prohibition on Russian aircraft from overflying or landing at airports in the UK
• the power to make directions in respect of the movement of Russian aircraft in United Kingdom airspace and at United Kingdom airports, including the power to detain Russian aircraft or to prevent such aircraft from taking off, landing at a UK airport or entering UK airspace
• registration of aircraft on the UK Aircraft Register (UKAR) that are owned, chartered or operated by designated persons is prohibited any such aircraft may also be deregistered from the?UKAR

Russian aircraft is defined as an aircraft:

• owned, chartered or operated by a designated person, or a person connected with Russia, or
• registered in Russia

See guidance on the UKs sanction regime relating to Russia.

Syria

Restrictions apply to certain aircraft that prevent them from landing in the UK. These include:

• aircraft operated by Syrian Arab Airlines
• any aircraft used exclusively for air cargo purposes that is owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Syria

See guidance on the UKs sanction regime relating to Syria.

Transport sanctions licences

The Department for Transport (DfT) issues licences to allow time-limited and specific actions to take place that would otherwise be prohibited by sanctions legislation.

You should read this guidance before you apply for a licence.

Applications for a licence will only be considered if:

• the purpose of the licence request meets the criteria set out in the relevant sanctions regulations
• the intended activity is not already allowed for under an exception in the regulations
• all details provided in the application form are complete and accurate

Where an activity requires more than one licence, an application for that licence must have already been approved by the appropriate government department.

General licence conditions

A transport licence is not transferable to another person who was not included in the original application.

The licence shall only apply in respect of the specific sanctions regulations under which it is issued.

The licensed activity, or activities, must be covered by all of the necessary licences, including those issued by other government departments, where necessary.

All those granted a licence should keep records of the activities undertaken in order to demonstrate compliance with the licence.

Specific licence conditions

Each licence contains specific conditions which may limit the scope and time frame in which the licence applies. The licence will specify the party or parties authorised to act under the licence. A licence may also impose particular requirements on a licence-holder, such as a reporting obligation.

Completing the licence application form

Providing comprehensive information in your application will speed up the process and make it less likely that the application is rejected or returned to you for further clarification.

Consider the following information to support you in completing your application.

It would be useful if you detail how urgent the request is, and why, so that it can be considered accordingly.