SIMIC

After international sanctions were imposed on Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine in February, many mainline operators suspended services to the country.

To deal with this, Russian forwarders, such as Transit, Swift Line and Inteco Lines, launched their own shipping services to China in the summer, reports London's Loadstar.

One broker said: "Only Chinese shipowners will agree to transact with the Russians. Those from other countries, particularly in Europe, are too afraid of running foul of sanctions. The main challenge, though, is receiving funds from Russian banks."

The last known ship sale to a Russian forwarder was that of the 2008-built 704 TEU Transit Shamora, bought by Transit from Qingdao China Gem Ship Management in July.

The broker explained that even while freight rates were falling across many major routes, Russia-China/Asia cargo volumes and rates had held. And as the forwarders were making money, they wanted to buy ships to minimise their charter costs.

Swift Line has chartered the 676 TEU multipurpose vessel (MPV) SOL Hongkong, owned by China-based Hong Glory Group, while Inteco Lines has chartered three MPVs, Shun Yue 13, Shun Yue 18 and Shun Yue 19, from Chinese owner Dalian Sincere Nice International.

A second broker said Russian liner operator Sakhalin Shipping, also known as Sasco, was also interested in buying ships.

He said: "We could look for ways to help them remit funds to the owners, but as we're a European company, our management is cautious about Russian business. The Chinese owners are receptive to being paid in yuan or roubles."

US and European banks have cut Russia from the global financial system to prevent anyone making or receiving payments to and from Russian parties.

Lawyer Siiri Duddington, a partner with Hill Dickinson, said whether ship sales to Russian parties had breached sanctions would depend on the goods transported, irrespective of the currency used.

Ms Duddington said: "The various sanctions regimes also contain restrictions prohibiting inter-alia making funds or economic resources available directly or indirectly to a person connected with Russia; or for the benefit of a person connected with Russia. These prohibitions will need to be considered on a case by case basis, as different sanctions regimes have imposed different prohibitions.

"The same applies for containerships, which often carry consumer goods and semi-finished products. Unlike the prohibitions imposed by the US, EU and UK on Russian oil (albeit with certain exceptions), it can be difficult to assess whether any prohibition would apply to containerised cargo, because it will depend on what goods are carried, which is not always readily ascertainable."