WWIII

Russia Recommends Increased Port Security Citing Threat from NATO

Security calls follow a tanker explosion at the Ust-Luga terminal and incidents involving two Greek tankers in the Mediterranean (Gazprom file photo)

Published Feb 21, 2025 12:33 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Russia’s Security Council cited increasing threats to the country’s ports and seabed infrastructure calling for increased efforts to protect its assets. This comes after NATO and neighboring countries have increased patrols in the Baltic after several incidents in which undersea cables were damaged and there has been speculation of attacks against tankers in the Russian oil trade.

Reports from the Russian media indicate that the Security Council recommended “step up monitoring of the activities of countries capable of creating threats to underwater and critical port infrastructure.” Grigory Molchanov cited the increased activity of NATO in the Baltic. He also referenced the ongoing use of unmanned attack boats by Ukraine in the Black Sea which he contends have been “repeatedly destroyed by units of the Russian Navy.”

Molchanov is quoted as saying, “There was an increase in sources of military dangers and military threats to the Russian Federation in connection with NATO’s build-up.” He asserted that NATO could be targeting maritime transport and major oil terminals, as well as railway connections. Last month, NATO along with the Baltic nations increased patrols after incidents of damage to undersea cables.

The reports did not indicate any planned specific actions, but Reuters is reporting it saw a letter from the Russian Transport Ministry outlining actions. It informs shipowners, according to Reuters, that all vessels will need to be inspected when they arrive in Russian ports. This will include the use of divers to check the hulls for possible explosives.

The move comes after it was revealed that Italian and Greek authorities are investigating damage to two Greek-owned tankers that have transported Russian oil in the past. Thenamaris confirmed that its vessel was damaged while offloading in Italy last weekend and also revealed an incident with another tanker in January as it neared Turkey. The Italian authorities included the possibility of terrorism or sabotage which has led to speculation that tankers transporting Russian oil could be the targets.

A Turkish-owned tanker was damaged while docked in Russia’s Ust-Luga early in February. Media reports called it an engine room explosion, but the mayor was quick to call it an attack on the vessel. Ust-Luga is the major Russian energy terminal on the Baltic.

Turkey and AD Ports End Negotiations for Izmir’s Alsancak Port

Alsancak Port is strategically located with easy access to the Mediterranean (Invest in Izmir)

Published Feb 21, 2025 5:15 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

 

The planned investment by AD Ports Group in Turkey’s Alsancak Port in Izmir has fallen apart after failed negotiations. The Turkish government this week confirmed that it has ended talks with the UAE company over the operation of the port. 

The negotiations have been ongoing for almost two years. AD Ports was expected to buy a stake in the port in the western province of Izmir. The port has been operational since 1959, and according to the Invest in Izmir initiative, the port is today the country’s seventh largest in terms of container volume and thirteenth in terms of cargo tonnage.

“We have pursued long negotiations with the investor from the Gulf, but no agreement has been achieved,” Turkish Transportation Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu told Bloomberg. “The aim was to get a partner to expand Alsancak port.” No further update was given on why the negotiations collapsed.

This becomes the second attempt to privatize Alsancak Port without success. In 2007, a group of investors including Hutchison Port Holdings submitted a $1.28 billion bid for the port. The deal was later blocked by a court leading the investors to withdraw. 

Since 2017, Alsancak has been owned by Turkey’s sovereign wealth fund TWF. It is currently operated by the national railway company TCDD. 

Faced with capacity challenges, the port has recorded a drop in cargo traffic. In container handling, the drop has come from a high of 390,300 TEUs in 2022 to 261,900 last year. 

The negotiations were part of a wider effort by the government to attract additional foreign investment. Turkey opened its market to UAE investments, looking to raise capital for its critical sectors. In 2023, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan inked deals worth $51 billion during a state visit to the UAE. The deals touched sectors such as energy, natural resources development, and defense. Trade relations between Turkey and UAE continue to develop, exceeding $50 billion in 2024, an increase of 11 percent year on year, according to data by the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum.

AD Ports' entry would have added to the massive investment by the DP World in the Turkish port sector. One of the largest container ports, Yarimca Terminal (Port of Izmit), on the Sea of Marmara east of Istanbul, is controlled by DP World. The terminal has an annual capacity of 1.15 million TEUs. Last year, the operator expanded into the neighboring Evyapport terminal in Izmit, through a merger with Evyap Group. 

Alsancak offers a strategic advantage in its position. It does not require a transit of the Dardanelles. It is seen as a port with potential because of its location and easy access to the Mediterranean.