The Russian frigate Shtandart has not been allowed to enter the port of Granville in France, where it was to participate in a sailing festival, AFP reported on Wednesday. The prefect of the Manche department justified the decision by complying with European sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
Built in 1999, the three-masted, 34-meter-long ship, a faithful replica of Tsar Peter the Great's frigate, was previously refused entry into the port of Brest, where it was to take part in a maritime festival in early July.
Currently, the prefect of the Manche department has banned the reception of the “Standart” in Granville and all the ports of the department. He justified the decision by complying with the European sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, extended from June 24, 2024 to “historical replicas of ships” or “flying the Russian flag before February 24, 2022”.
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“Sztandart” has been taking part in European maritime festivals for years.
The “Sztandart” changed flags in early June and is currently registered in the Cook Islands. The ship was to participate in the “Voiles de travail” sailing festival, held from 21 to 25 August in Granville, to which it was invited by the community of Granville Terre et Mer.
“Sztandart” has participated in European maritime festivals for years, and has been taking passengers on cruises since 1999. Over the course of 25 years, the ship has taken 10,000 people on board and participated in 200 maritime festivals in Europe.
In early August, the frigate was allowed to stop in La Rochelle for two days to refuel. According to the ship tracking service Marinetraffic, it was off the southern coast of Finistere on Wednesday afternoon.
Main image source: VALDA KALNINA/EPA/PAP