Ukrainian Seizes Vessel Linked to Crimea Grain Transportation

On October 9, a Ukrainian court approved the confiscation of the vessel USKO MFU, which had been detained in July for illegally transporting grain to and from Crimea, a region occupied by Russia.

Originally flagged in Cameroon and owned by Turkey-based Usko Shipping, the USKO MFU is a general cargo vessel built in 1982. It has a gross tonnage of 2,654 tons and measures 94 meters in length and 13 meters in width. Ownership of the vessel has now been officially transferred to the Ukrainian government.

The vessel was seized in July after being found to have transported 3,000 tons of grain from Crimea to a Turkish company in November 2023, violating Ukrainian and international laws. The ship's captain and second officer have since been charged with illegal transportation of goods from occupied territories. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison.