Restrictive Measures

Notice by the Merchant Shipping Directorate to Shipowners, Ship Operators, Managers, Masters, Owners’ Representatives and Recognised Organisations. 

The Merchant Shipping Directorate would like to draw the attention of all concerned to the various restrictive measures adopted in recent years in view of the situation in a number of States.

In particular, the attention of the shipping community is drawn to the restrictions on making available funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural persons or natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them listed in the various EU instruments and the prohibition on transport of certain goods from or to the European Union by EU nationals or using ships flying the flag of a European Member State.

To this end it is imperative that all those concerned conduct appropriate due diligence when embarking in any kind of transactions with entities linked to the States against which restrictive measures are in place. In case of any doubt on whether the transaction is in violation of any restrictive measures the appropriate Board within the EU Member States must be contacted for authorization, failure of which might lead to serious repercussions.

To this effect, shipping organisations established in Malta or operating Maltese ships are reminded that the Sanctions Monitoring Board within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, established by Legal Notice 562 of 2010 under the National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act, has the overall function of monitoring the implementation and operation of sanctions legislation in Malta and is the competent entity that may grant any such authorisations.

The shipping community is reminded without prejudice that the use of Maltese ships in any such violation may be considered as being against the interest of Malta and of Maltese shipping and may lead, inter alia, to closure of registry.

The relevant legal instruments can be viewed and downloaded from:

http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf

http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/index_en.htm

http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=21653&l=1

http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8835&l=1