EU Court Upholds Sanctions on Russian Ship Register
The General Court rejected most of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping's challenge but annulled the EU's withdrawal of its ship inspection recognition.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Cruises
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The General Court of the European Union upheld EU sanctions imposed since March 2022 on the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS), a Russian state-owned company based in St Petersburg. The court annulled the EU Council's decision to withdraw the recognition granted to RMRS as a ship inspection organisation.
Why it matters
RMRS classifies, inspects and certifies Russian- and foreign-flagged ships, so the ruling bears on how vessels are certified under EU rules. The court's split outcome leaves the sanctions in place while requiring the EU to reconsider the recognition withdrawal.
The judgment in Case T-535/24 is a formal ruling of the EU's General Court on sanctions first imposed in March 2022. The extraction does not provide quantitative figures, and it is unclear how the EU will respond to the annulled recognition decision.
The players
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS)
A Russian state-owned classification society based in St Petersburg that classifies, inspects and certifies Russian- and foreign-flagged ships.
General Court of the European Union
The EU court that reviews the legality of acts of EU institutions and rendered this judgment in Case T-535/24.
The details
The court rejected RMRS's challenge to its listing as a sanctioned Russian entity and to the ban on investment in and transactions with the company. It held, however, that withdrawing RMRS's recognition falls under the common foreign and security policy and was disproportionate, since suspension would have been a less restrictive measure.
Timeline
March 2022: EU sanctions on RMRS first imposed.
November 4, 2026: General Court delivers judgment in Case T-535/24.
Sanctions Context
The ruling upholds the EU sanctions package first imposed in March 2022 against Russian entities over actions destabilising Ukraine. It draws a legal line between listing a company and withdrawing its maritime recognition, which the court treats as a separate measure.
If the restrictive measures are lifted, RMRS would have to undergo a new recognition procedure with an uncertain outcome. Travelers and shipping operators relying on RMRS certification should watch for any change to the status of vessels it has classed.
The takeaway
Sanctions can target a company's listing while leaving separate regulatory decisions open to legal challenge. Operators relying on classification bodies should track whether recognition is restored or reissued.
Further reading
For more on how ships are certified and classed, see Cruises.
More information
Read the full General Court judgment in Case T-535/24 on the EU court's publications portal.
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