Russian ship turns back on Syria voyage A Russian-owned ship suspected of carrying refurbished helicopters and other arms towards Syria has turned back after a UK-based insurer terminated its cover. William Hague, the UK foreign secretary, said on Tuesday that the MV Alaed, owned by Russia's Femco, had turned back, apparently to Russia, after the Standard Protection and Indemnity Club withdrew its insurance. The vessel had been off northern Scotland when the cover was withdrawn. British government officials confirmed that the MV Alaed appeared to be carrying three Syrian Mi-25 helicopters destined for the Syrian port of Tartus. Syria sent the helicopters back to Russia for refurbishment earlier this year and the three aircraft were now returning to Syria after being re-equipped, according to the officials. The incident is the latest to illustrate the effect EU sanctions on marine insurers are having on trade with both Syria and Iran. Around 95 per cent of the world's ocean-going ships insure for third-party risks such as pollution through mutually owned protection and indemnity (P&I) insurers, all of which reinsure through the London-based International Group of P&I Clubs. The sanctions on both Syria and Iran make it a clear breach of the rules to pay out for any losses incurred during voyages involving prohibited cargoes travelling to or from Iran or Syria. P&I Clubs worldwide have consequently been at pains to tell members their cover will be void if they engage in any prohibited trades. The prohibitions have caused significant problems for ships belonging to companies in India, Korea and Japan seeking to carry Iranian oil, since the vast majority normally insure through International Group members. The Standard Club, which is based in London, said it had been "made aware" of the allegations that the Alaed was carrying munitions destined for Syria, which would be a "clear breach" of the club's rules. "We consequently informed the ship owner that their insurance cover ceased automatically in view of the nature of the voyage," the club said. The club's decision covers seven other vessels that Femco had insured via the Standard Club, as well as the Alaed. It would have been very difficult - though not necessarily impossible - for the Alaed to continue its voyage after the insurance was withdrawn. Signatories of the main International Maritime Organisation anti-pollution conventions demand that vessels show they have appropriate P&I insurance before entering port. The vessel is instead likely to be forced to seek insurance on the "fixed-premium" market, where vessels can buy P&I insurance for a fixed price, instead of on the mutual, risk-sharing basis of the clubs. The EU has introduced increasingly tough sanctions against Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government over the past year as it has stepped up repression against internal dissent. Russia announced on Monday that it intended to send two warships to Syria to protect Russian citizens from the possibility of worsening violence.