PRESIDENT Joe Biden has announced a ban on all Russia-linked ships from US ports from April 28, extending prohibitions already in place in Europe, the UK and Canada.

The move is likely to affect 460 ships trading internationally, including the 160-tanker fleet owned by Russian Federation-controlled Sovcomflot, data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows.

“I’m announcing that the US will ban Russian-affiliated ships from our ports as they did in Europe,’’ the president said during remarks made on Ukraine.

“That means no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity, will be allowed to dock in United States ports or access our shores.”

The restrictions on port entry for Russia-linked ships comes as the European Union said it was also readying a phase-out of Russian oil and gas and was seeking political agreement in talks.

Bans and self-sanctioning by oil traders and refineries are already restricting business for the Russia-owned fleet, although vessel-tracking shows that volumes shipped have yet to be affected as cargoes divert to India and Asia and diesel shipments remain steady.

Novoship-owned, Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier Svet (IMO: 9625956) was seen diverting off Mozambique, while Sovcomflot tankers are tracked undertaking ship-to-ship transfers of Russian crude off Europe to circumvent pressure over oil import origin.

Last year Russia-affiliated vessels made about 1,800 visits to the US, according to news reports, suggesting that the ban would not have any impact on supply chain logistics snarls that have clogged container ports over the past year.

The proclamation specified that vessels included were those that were Russia-flagged, Russia-registered, or if they were operated, owned or registered by a Russian citizen, permanent resident or the federation.

The US movement further tightens movements of Russia-linked ships worldwide.

The US has already banned imports of Russian crude from April 22, while the UK was the first to move with restrictions on Russia-owned ships earlier in March, along with the phasing out of oil and oil products imports by the end of 2022.

Europe’s trade commissioner earlier today signalled in news interviews that the 27-member bloc was “ready to act fast” in phasing out Russia energy commodities but political agreement was needed.

A ban on Russian coal will start from mid-August, according to EU notices.