Malta Releases Two Russian-Linked Container Ships After 3-Year Detention

Two container vessels detained in Malta since 2022 due to their connection with a Russian state-owned company have finally been released after a change in ownership.

The ships, previously known as MSC Bilbao and MSC Valencia, were held at the Port of Valletta for almost three years. Each ship has a capacity of 8,204 TEU and was operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) under bare-boat charter agreements.

The vessels were originally linked to GTLK Joint-Stock Company, also known as State Transport Leasing Company (STLC), a Russian government-owned transport leasing company.

GTLK has been on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list since early 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Due to these ties, the ships were detained by Maltese authorities in 2022.

On 7 July 2025, ownership of both ships was officially transferred to Trans-Shipping Company (TSC). After the transfer, the vessels were renamed TSC Dorado and TSC London.

TSC is linked to Hammonia Reederei, a German ship management company, which is not subject to any sanctions. This new ownership structure allowed the Maltese authorities to release the vessels and clear them for resuming commercial service.

The financial details of the ownership transfer have not been disclosed publicly.

Before the detention, both ships were chartered by MSC under bare-boat contracts, meaning MSC operated them but did not own them. During the period of detention, two legal claims were filed in Malta against the ships.

Marlow Navigation filed a claim related to unpaid crew wages, while North by Northwest filed a separate claim concerning bunker fuel costs.

In October 2024, the Maltese Court of Appeal made a decision regarding bare-boat charter liability. Although the ruling didn’t directly affect the sanctions issue, it highlighted legal complexities around vessel operation and responsibility.

GTLK has been a key target of Western sanctions on Russian transport and leasing. Since early 2022, many of its ships and aircraft have been detained, reflagged, or sold in Europe. The MSC Bilbao and MSC Valencia, both built in 2007, were among these assets.

Following the renaming and ownership change, the ships are now eligible to return to international trade. Chartering arrangements are currently under review, but it is not yet confirmed whether MSC will continue operating the vessels under a new agreement or if TSC will assign them to other shipping lines.

References: portnews, seasnews

Source: Maritime Shipping News