Publication

This paper discusses the legal implications presented by the passage of westbound vessels carrying Russian hydrocarbons in the Barent Sea. It assesses the EU and US coastal environmental regimes which may also have an effect on the hydrocarbon vessel traffic in the arctic region. It raises the issue of Russian or third-country vessels owned by companies controlled by non-EU nationals that are beyond the competition law jurisdiction of the EU. Moreover, states that the EU trade in shipping acquis does not receive the same harsh criticism addressed to the similar US legislation listed in the 1996 Blocking Statute.