Appeal to embargo all Russian ships from Irish territorial waters following Aughinish alumina load discard

The Ireland government has been petitioned to disallow all Russian ships to enter Irish territorial waters following a Russian cargo ship rejected its strive to collect a bulk load of alumina produced at the Rusal owned Aughinish Alumina refinery near Askeaton on 2^nd February 2022.

According to the marine traffic tracker website, a 2018 built general cargo ship, Pola Feodosia, currently sailing under the Russian flag and whose home port is St Petersburg took a one-eighty degree turn in the Shannon Estuary and was navigating for Denmark.

The Russian aluminium giant, Rusal operated Aughinish Alumina refinery is the largest alumina producer in Europe and employs more than 450 staff.

Dr Cathal Berry, an Independent TD for the constituency of Kildare South, who has spent 23 years in the Irish Defence Forces exclaimed for barring of Russian aeroplanes from EU airspace to be broadened to the EU’s maritime environment.

The Irish independent politician further added by commenting that it would be highly recommended for such a move to be synchronized throughout the European Union. However, Ireland could act solitaire if needed to originate a progression across the EU.