Tanker arriving in Lough Foyle with Russian oil

A tanker carrying oil from Russia is due to arrive in Lough Foyle this evening, on its way to Foyle Port, outside Derry City.

On Tuesday (March 1), the British Department for Transport announced the closure of ports to all Russian-owned, operated, controlled, chartered, registered or flagged vessels. However, the ban does not cover the origin of the cargo.

Speaking to Inish Live, a spokesperson for Foyle Port said: Foyle Port is currently operating to the parameters of the sanctions set out by the Department for Transport in London.

"It has been highlighted to the department, by the port, that the commodity on a ship is beyond the set sanctions.

"It is clear from the department that we are obliged to facilitate this vessel, which is not Russian owned, registered or managed."

The ship tracking website, Marine Traffic, gave the 184 metre-long Pluto as being in the Irish Sea this afternoon, with the vessel expected in Foyle Port at 8.00pm.

It is believed, Pluto, is carrying crude oil from Primorsk, near St Petersburg, on the Baltic Sea, in northwestern Russia.