Malta Frees Two Sanctioned Ships After Ownership Change

Two container vessels detained in Malta since 2022 due to ties with sanctioned Russian interests have now been released following a change in ownership.

The MSC Bilbao and MSC Valencia, each with a capacity of 8,204 TEU and formerly operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), had been held at the Port of Valletta for nearly three years. The detentions stemmed from their links to GTLK, Russia’s state-owned transportation leasing firm, which was placed under U.S. Treasury OFAC sanctions after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On July 7, 2025, both ships were officially transferred to new owners with no ties to sanctioned entities. They have since been renamed TSC Dorado and TSC London, clearing the path for their return to active service.

The vessels are now under the ownership of TSC, a company unaffiliated with Russian interests and reportedly connected to Germany’s Hammonia Reederei. This new ownership arrangement allowed Maltese authorities to release the ships from detention. Specifics about the transaction, including sale prices, have not been publicly revealed.

GTLK has been a primary focus of Western efforts to restrict Russian state-linked transport and leasing activities. Since the sanctions began in early 2022, numerous GTLK assets—including ships and aircraft—have been seized, reflagged, or sold off across Europe.

Both container vessels were built in 2007 and are part of GTLK’s broader fleet, which also included tankers and offshore support vessels affected by the crackdown.

Now officially renamed and free to operate, the TSC Dorado and TSC London are evaluating charter options. It is still uncertain whether MSC will resume operating them under a new agreement or whether the new owners will place the ships with a different liner operator.