Tanker of Russian gas diverted after Kent dockers refuse to unload it

Union calls for closure of loophole that allows Russian cargo into UK on ships registered elsewhere

• Ukraine-Russia crisis: latest updates

Dockers who vowed not to unload a tanker of Russian gas that was due to arrive at a Thames Estuary port in the early hours of Friday morning have scored a victory, after the ship was diverted, the Guardian understands.

The Boris Vilkitskiy was on its way to the Isle of Grain with a consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Centrica, the owner of British Gas, owing to an apparent loophole on Russian-associated ships imposed by the Department for Transport.