Ukraine and Russia are named in official records from the Las Palmas Port Authority about maritime activity in the capital region. Since February, a dispute has unfolded between two fishing vessels docking at Las Palmas Port. The ships are Captain Rusak and Professor Mikhail Alexandrov, both affiliated with the Ukrainian fishing company Fishing Company SA.
Multiple regional media outlets have accused the manager of Fishing Company SA of removing these two vessels from Ukraine’s state register of fishing vessels. Reports suggest the aim is to secure new freight arrangements with entities linked to Russian businessmen, a move that could weaken oversight of Ukraine’s trawler fleet.
One outlet even hints that the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal case against several officials from the State Fisheries Agency, seeking cooperation from Spanish authorities to immobilize the boats and prevent their transfer to entities connected with Russia.
Port sources in Las Palmas acknowledge a commercial dispute between the owner and the charterer. They emphasize that the issue is not tied to the broader Russia-Ukraine conflict and deny any detention or immobilization of ships at the port.
Both vessels, Captain Rusak and Professor Mihail Alexandrov, berthed at Cambulloneros quay. Rusak operates under a Cameroonian flag, while Fishing Company SA lists it under the Georgian flag; it arrived in Las Palmas from Nouadhibou, an African port. The ship was built 26 years ago in Ukrainian shipyards, measures 104.5 meters in length and 16.03 meters in width.
The Alexandrov shares traits with its fleet partner but flies a New Zealand flag, a country where it frequently operates and where it has faced questions over alleged catches in restricted zones. Both vessels can carry approximately 1,810 tons of fish, with daily yields around 75 to 85 tons, and are valued at roughly ten million euros each.
fraud claim
Officials from Ukraine’s State Fisheries Agency have, in reports described as confidential, discussed a plan to transfer the two trawlers to Russia. The described approach involved first leasing the ships to Victoria Celeste LLP, a company connected to a Russian businessman with extensive mining interests, and then a supposed loan from Ukraine for services not rendered, intended to trigger a default that would move the ships to the Russian state investment arm.
Mamarakhimov runs Perok Alliance LLP, which is tied to the founding entities Ferton Impex Limited and Sturari Impex Limited. Victoria Celeste LLP is described in Ukrainian press as a charterer of the Ukrainian state fisheries fleet, including Captain Rusak and Professor Mihail Alexandrov.
A new bareboat charter agreement was formalized in October 2021 at a monthly rate of 50,000 euros. Yet an internal audit by Fishing Company SA, according to a statement from the State Fisheries Department, found indications of fraud intended to benefit the Russian party.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict intensified in February of the previous year. Since then, the European Union has imposed sanctions that constrain Russia’s economy and restrict entry of Russian vessels into EU ports, including Las Palmas, a port with long-standing ties to Russian shipping. These measures have affected local business interests around the Las Palmas port, with entities like the Association of Transporters and Freight Carriers (Asocielpa) seeing affiliates impacted by the changes. EU lawmakers have pressed for action to address these consequences, though attempts to restore the Russian ships have yet to succeed.
The Ukrainian fishing fleet remains smaller than its Russian counterpart, yet its ships frequently call at Las Palmas. Historically, Ukrainian fleets operated mainly in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov within the 1995 exclusive economic zone. Species such as sprat and anchovy are targeted for canning and smoking industries. The offshore fleet operates in the eastern Atlantic and mid-Atlantic regions, pursuing tuna, sardines, mackerel, and sardinella to supply nearby markets. Ukrainian State Fisheries Agency