The shifting politics of global shipping threatens to end Russia’s 63-year membership of a key decision-making body of the London-based International Maritime Organization.

Elections later this year will decide the 40 countries that for two years from January will make up the executive — the IMO’s council — in the first vote since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has not yet put itself up for the election, but the war and subsequent threats to commercial shipping in the Black Sea will see it black-balled by some countries if it decides to stand, according to IMO watchers.