A significant ship traffic jam has formed outside Russian ports in the Gulf of Finland, with a line of tankers and cargo vessels currently stretched over 55 kilometers. Some ships have reportedly been waiting up to five days for permission to dock at the port of Ust-Luga. The congestion is mainly due to a shift in maritime cargo from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea, a result of Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships and port infrastructure.
Dozens of Ships Waiting off Russian Ports
As of September 30, around 65 tankers and 85 cargo ships were awaiting clearance to enter Russian ports. The line at Ust-Luga alone consisted of 43 vessels.
The traffic jam stretches more than 30 nautical miles, or about 55 kilometers. Wait times to enter Ust-Luga can reach up to five days, according to available data.
The unusual situation was first highlighted by the open-source analyst known as Russian Forces Spotter, and the information was later reported by both Russian and international media.
Number of Waiting Ships Has Risen Sharply
The scale of the problem becomes clear when compared to previous weeks: about a month ago, only 24 ships were waiting to enter Russian ports.
During the summer, the highest number of vessels waiting in the area was about ten. The situation changed significantly after August 10.
The sharp increase is largely due to the rerouting of some maritime cargo after Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea.
Shipping Rerouted to the Baltic Sea
Ukrainian strikes against Russian ships and port facilities in the Black Sea have disrupted traditional maritime routes, forcing some cargo to be redirected toward Russian Baltic ports.
This shift has increased pressure on terminals now handling a much larger volume of incoming vessels.
While this does not mean Russian exports have been halted, longer routes, waiting times before ports, and limited terminal capacity are now driving up costs and could extend the time required to deliver raw materials.
Similar difficulties are affecting Russian oil exports and tankers attempting to avoid sanctions. More on changes to Russian oil routes can be found in our article on sanctioned tankers rerouting to avoid the English Channel.
Shadow Fleet Vessels Among the Congestion
Notably, several vessels associated with the so-called Russian shadow fleet have been spotted in the queue.
This term refers to a network of tankers and other ships that, according to Western countries, are used to transport Russian oil and energy resources in defiance of sanctions.
According to available information, at least six such vessels were present in the congestion outside Ust-Luga.
The shadow fleet has recently come under increased scrutiny by European countries. In early October, the United Kingdom expanded its sanctions to include additional ships linked to Russian energy. Such measures are intended to hamper Russia’s ability to circumvent sanctions.
Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on the latest UK sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, which hit eight vessels and additional individuals.
Russia Redirects Oil Flows in Response
Moscow is also attempting to adapt its export routes as the situation evolves.
In mid-August, Reuters reported that Russian authorities had begun diverting some Kazakh oil shipments from Baltic ports to Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, in order to relieve pressure on Baltic terminals.
The current situation, however, demonstrates that Russia’s maritime logistics remain under considerable strain. Shifting traffic between different ports may solve some bottlenecks, but it also creates new capacity issues elsewhere.
Why Ust-Luga Is Important
Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s major port complexes on the Baltic Sea. Located in the Leningrad Region near the Estonian border, it handles exports of various commodities, including energy resources.
When dozens of vessels build up outside the terminal, it can slow down loading and unloading operations, thereby increasing logistical costs.
However, the data do not imply a complete halt of Russian exports. Rather, they reveal a significant slowdown in ship movements in the area.
The situation also illustrates how military operations in the Black Sea can have consequences hundreds of kilometers away from the actual conflict zone.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
