Statistics
Statistics and General Overview 1st Q 2026
Statistics and Overview*
The first issue of the Maritime Law Journal in 2026 covers the period from January to March. We continue publishing statistics on maritime disputes considered by commercial courts during the reporting period.
Traditionally, in the first quarter of the year, the number of cases considered declines: some cases are sought to be concluded before New Year’s Eve, whilst others are postponed to a later date. The overall shipping market situation also affects the number of cases. The predominance of domestic market participants enables them to reach an agreement among themselves and to resolve issues out of court more readily. Other parties submit their disputes to arbitration, primarily to ensure confidentiality. Furthermore, beginning with the fourth issue of 2025, we began covering fewer cases and adopted a stricter approach to connection with merchant shipping.
The Centre for Maritime Law at the National University of Singapore, together with the Comité Maritime International, maintains a database of cases considered by courts in various jurisdictions that interpret international maritime conventions. The database covers Russian cases. Russian case summaries can be accessed via https://cmlcmidatabase.org/browse-by-jurisdiction. It is necessary to select “Russia.”
Cases in District Commercial Courts
In the first quarter of 2026, 21 maritime cases were heard by the district commercial courts. Sixteen cases concerned private law matters, whilst five related to public law. A considerable number of cases arose from a single incident – the oil spill from the ships Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239. Spills of this nature often give rise to a substantial volume of related disputes concerning salvage, damages, environmental liability, and other matters. The spill under review proved no exception to this rule.
Case No А32-45565/2022 is interesting. Following the grounding of the ship, the Marine Rescue Service (Morspassluzhba) carried out not only the salvage operation but also subsequent works to ensure the safe anchorage of the ship. The subject matter of the dispute concerned the remuneration for those subsequent services – namely, continuous towage attendance and the maintenance of the vessel’s life-support systems. The Court confirmed the legitimacy of distinguishing between salvage reward and payment for other services rendered. The Court further held that the obligation to pay for such services may arise from the implicative action. In so doing, the Court affirmed the availability of a freestanding claim for the costs of ensuring safe anchorage once the salvage operation has been completed.
| Court Name | Categories of cases |
|---|---|
| Commercial Court of the North-Western District | 5 cases in total: − on recovery under a contract for the carriage of goods by sea (2); − on recovery under the towing agreement (2); − on recovery under a shipbuilding contract. |
| Commercial Court of the Far Eastern District | 3 cases in total: − on challenging the order issued by Rostransnadzor (2); − in consideration for unjustified enrichment in respect of the use of a berth’s water area. |
| Commercial Court of the West Siberian District | 2 cases in total: − on challenging the order issued by Rostransnadzor; − on recovery under a contract for the carriage of goods by sea. |
| Commercial Court of the Moscow District | 4 cases in total: − in consideration for of expenses incurred in the carriage of postal items (3); − on recovery under a time charter. |
| Commercial Court of the Volga District | 1 case in total: − on recovery under a contract for the carriage of goods by sea. |
| Commercial Court of the North Caucasus District | 6 cases in total: − for compensation for harm caused to the marine environment by pollution with petroleum products; − on recovery under a salvage contract; − on insurance indemnity arising from marine environmental pollution; − on challenging the harbour master’s order; − on recovery under a bareboat charter. |
Cases in the Commercial Courts of Appeal
The Commercial Courts of Appeal considered 20 cases concerning private law matters and 4 concerning public law. Most cases were heard by the Fifth and Thirteenth Commercial Courts of Appeal. Most cases concerned recovery of debts arising under various contracts, including charters, carriage contracts, and salvage services. Other categories of cases included marine insurance, claims for environmental damage, and kindred matters.
Case No A32-36143/2025 of the Fifteenth Commercial Court of Appeal is noteworthy. The dispute arose from a claim for a penalty for the late payment of port dues under a contract between the port authority and a shipping agent. The court held that an agent who undertook to pay port dues is solely responsible for the performance of that obligation and may not rely upon non-payment by shipowners or insufficient budgetary funding as grounds for non-performance. The court further held that a subsequent reduction of the contractual penalty does not apply to the debt that has already occurred by default.
| Court Name | Categories of cases |
|---|---|
| 2nd Commercial Courts of Appeal (2nd CCA) | 1 case in total: − on challenging administrative liability for violation of border crossing rules. |
| 5th CCA | 6 cases in total: − on recovery under a contract of marine insurance; − on recovery under a time charter (2); − on recovery under a contract for the carriage of goods by sea (2); − for a declaration that a salvage contract is void. |
| 6th CCA | 1 case in total: − on recovery under a contract for icebreaker escort services. |
| 8th CCA | 1 case in total: − on recovery under a contract for icebreaker escort services. |
| 9th CCA | 4 cases in total: − on expenses incurred in the carriage of postal items (3); – on challenging the administrative liability for a tax ofefnce. |
| 12th CCA | 2 cases in total: − on recovery under the towing agreement; − in consideration for unjustified enrichment in respect of the use of port infrastructure facilities. |
| 13th CCA | 5 cases in total: − on damage arising from a collision between vessels; − on damage arising from a casualty; − on recovery under an agency agreement; − on challenging the administrative liability for a currency ofefnce; – on challenging the administrative liability for a tax ofefnce. |
| 14th CCA | 1 case in total: − on recovery under a contract for the carriage of goods by sea. |
| 15th CCA | 3 cases in total: − for the delivery of petroleum products from on board a vessel; − on recovery under a contract for the carriage of goods by sea; − on recovery under a contract governing port dues. |
Cases in the first instance courts
The commercial courts of first instance heard 52 maritime cases: 40 concerning matters of private law and 12 relating to public law. The most frequently encountered categories were cases involving violation of border crossing rules (10 cases) and claims for recovery under time charters, contracts of carriage, and shipping agency agreements. This distribution is broadly consistent with that observed in preceding periods.
Conclusion
In the first quarter of 2026, the commercial courts examined a total of 97 maritime cases: 52 before courts of first instance, 24 before Courts of Appeal, and 21 before district courts. The statistics compiled illustrate the breadth and variety of maritime disputes: alongside conventional contractual claims, a significant proportion of cases concerned casualties at sea and pollution damage.