2021年11月，Tonzip Maritime（船东）将”加泰罗尼亚海”轮期租给2Rivers（租船人），执行从俄罗斯普里莫斯克至土耳其阿利亚加的航次，运输石油。租约中包含EPS制裁条款。
2021年中期，欧盟和英国先后因俄罗斯商人米哈伊尔·古谢列夫与白俄罗斯政权的关系而对其施加制裁。2021年7月，古谢列夫将其在俄罗斯石油公司Neftisa的最终受益所有权转让给了其兄弟，仅保留7%股份。
2021年11月17日，船舶抵达普里莫斯克时，货物由Neftisa装运。船东经核查后认定古谢列夫仍是货物的最终受益所有人，认为该运输将落入欧盟和英国制裁范围，遂拒绝装货。租船人试图说服船东，并提供了法律意见，称古谢列夫既不在Neftisa董事会任职，也不控制该公司。船东坚持拒绝。11月24日，租船人通过电子邮件取消租约；船东将此视为毁约行为，索赔约102万美元。租船人反诉约23.36万美元。
详细信息请参阅附件。
Interpretation principles and practical Implications of particular sanction clauses in Charterparties — The [2026] EWCA Civ 641 Case
In November 2021, Tonzip Maritime (owners) chartered the vessel Catalan Sea to 2Rivers (charterers) for a voyage from Primorsk, Russia to Aliaga, Turkey, carrying oil. The charterparty contained an EPS Sanctions Clause.
The EU and UK had sanctioned Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriev in mid-2021 due to his links to the Belarus regime. In July 2021, Gutseriev transferred his ultimate beneficial ownership of Russian oil company Neftisa to his brother, retaining only a 7% stake.
When the vessel arrived at Primorsk on 17 November 2021, the cargo was shipped by Neftisa. The owners concluded that Gutseriev remained the ultimate beneficial owner of the cargo and that the carriage would fall within EU and UK sanctions territory. They refused to load. The charterers provided legal opinions stating that Gutseriev neither sat on Neftisa’s board nor controlled it. The owners maintained their refusal. On 24 November 2021, the charterers cancelled the charterparty by email. The owners treated this as repudiatory breach and claimed damages of approximately US$1.02 million. The charterers counterclaimed for about US$233,600.
Please see attached file for details.
