A Russian-owned tanker due to dock in Scotland has turned away after being to banned from anchoring at the Orkney oil terminal.
Grant Shapps, the UK Transport Secretary, issued an instruction to UK ports not to allow Russian-owned vessels to dock at UK ports.
Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael tweeted 'Orkney -1 Putin -0' as news broke that the tanker would no longer call at the island oil terminal.
Shapps was urged to move as the Russian NS Champion vessel, owned by Russian company Sovcomflot, prepared to dock in Orkney.
The firm, one of the world’s largest petroleum shipping companies, is facing sanctions from the US but no sanctions have been imposed on the company by the UK Government.
Another of the company’s vessels, chartered to BP, docked at the Sullom Voe terminal in Shetland last Thursday as Russian forces invaded Ukraine leaving Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael demanding that the UK government investigate.
Shapps issued his letter on Monday, stating: “Today I’ve written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels.
"Given Putin’s action in Ukraine I’ve made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow.”
The move was welcomed by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who had raised the matter personally in talks with Shapps.
She said: “I had a constructive conversation with Grant Shapps yesterday evening in light of the planned docking of a Russian vessel in Orkney, and I welcome this step while legislation for longer term takes effect.”
Speaking in Aberdeen, the First Minister said she wanted the vessel turned back.
Sturgeon said: “It would go against, if not the letter then certainly the spirit, of the sanctions and I think it would send the wrong message to the people in Ukraine and across the world right now.”
Orkney Islands Council leader James Stockan confirmed the vessel was no longer coming to the port/
He said: “We welcomed the announcement this afternoon from the UK government’s Secretary of State for Transport. That announcement was followed by news from the ship’s agent that they were cancelling the visit.”
Alastair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, said: "News that the government will ban Russian owned vessels from UK ports is somewhat overdue but enormously welcome."
"It will be a relief for my constituents who were ready to protest to prevent such arrivals – and a relief for all people who oppose Putin’s bloodthirsty regime."
"There is more that can and must be done to oppose Putin’s aggression but this is a positive step."
The NS Champion had been due to dock at Flotta, an oil terminal, at 6pm on Tuesday evening, but Orkney council said on Monday afternoon that had been pushed back to 8am on Wednesday.
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