A large number of ships have been stopped due to heavy traffic in Russian ports, especially in the Ust-Luga and Lavansa areas. According to reports, by the end of September, 150 ships have been waiting to enter Russian ports.
Ship Traffic Analysis
Analyses show that most ships are trying to reach the Ust-Luga and Lavansa ports, which include an oil terminal and a major loading port. Additionally, some ships are also waiting to enter the ports of Primorsk and Saint Petersburg.
Ship traffic has significantly increased throughout September and has been described as "an unusual number of ships waiting for Russian ports." Officials from the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard have confirmed that the number of ships is beyond normal, and many ships are waiting to enter Russian ports.
Reasons for Increased Traffic
According to reports, one reason for the increased traffic in Russian ports is the impact of Ukraine's attacks in the Black Sea. Traffic towards the Black Sea has sharply decreased in the past two or three months, and some Black Sea ports have been completely shut down due to attacks. For example, attacks on the Caspian Sea pipeline terminal have caused tankers to avoid Russian waters in the Black Sea.
Given these changes, Russia has inevitably shifted its cargo to Baltic ports. It has also been reported that a chemical and fertilizer terminal in Lavansa has been repurposed for loading grains and coal.
Safety concerns have also been raised due to the increasing number of ships in the Gulf of Finland. Additionally, some ships have been pursued due to Ukrainian sanctions related to activities such as arms trafficking and the transport of stolen goods.
Reports indicate that waiting times in Russian ports have also contributed to the increased traffic. For example, last week, the waiting time in Lavansa reached 4.61 days. Finnish officials are aware of this issue and are monitoring the ship traffic situation.
