*** ----> Russian sailing frigate docks in French port despite sanctions | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Russian sailing frigate docks in French port despite sanctions

AFP | La Rochelle, France

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

French authorities allowed the Russian sailing frigate the Shtandart to dock in a French port despite sanctions over Moscow's war against Ukraine, a port source said yesterday.

The Shtandart arrived in La Rochelle, on the southwest coast, to replenish supplies and refuel from Monday to Tuesday, said the source, asking not to be named. Russian ships are generally banned from entering EU ports due to the sanctions.

The 34-metre-long (112 feet) three-masted ship, built in 1999 and an exact replica of a frigate belonging to Tsar Peter the Great, was barred from entering Brest and from taking part in the Breton port's maritime festival in July.

But the prefecture of the Charente-Maritime region allowed the vessel to make the stop in La Rochelle. "(The Shtandart) arrived on Monday morning and left on Tuesday afternoon," said the source, specifying that it was not clear where the boat was headed next.