AGA Partners achieved the release of the Clent’s goods – more than 3,000 mt of barley – from the vessel M/V USKO MFU, which was arrested in the Reni port, Ukraine. The vessel was arrested at the request of the Office of the Prosecutor of Crimea and Sevastopol City due to the alleged voyages to the Russia-annexed Crimea.

The Client – a Greek trading company – was not aware of the possible prior voyages of the affreighted vessel to ports of the annexed Crimea, relying on the shipowners’ representation that there were no grounds for the vessel’s arrest or detention and that their business activities comply with the legislation combating the terrorism financing. 

Therefore, after the vessel was arrested, the Client became a hostage of this situation, risking to incur damages because of the deterioration of the grain in the vessel’s holds. However, thanks to the successful actions of AGA Partners, including applications to the court and law enforcement authorities, as well as negotiations with the sellers of the goods, shipowners, port harbour master, border guard service and other authorities, the goods were transhipped onto another vessel and delivered to the Client’s buyer under the relevant sale contract. Due to that, damages were avoided. 

The AGA Partners’ team was represented by Partner Ivan Kasynyuk, Senior Associate Yurii Bedenko and Associate Viktor Pasichnyk.