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US Sanctions Bite—Russian Oil Ship to India Abruptly Turns Back
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A Russian oil tanker bound for India abruptly reversed course in the Baltic Sea this week, signaling potential disruption in crude shipments between Moscow and New Delhi following new US sanctions on Russian energy giants, Bloomberg reported on October 29.
The Furia, carrying about 730,000 barrels of Urals crude loaded from Russia’s Primorsk port on October 20, was originally headed for India’s Sikka port, used by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum.
But on October 28, the 23-year-old Aframax vessel made a U-turn near Denmark and Germany, slowing to a halt in the Baltic, according to Bloomberg.
The reversal came a week after Washington imposed sanctions on state-owned Rosneft and Lukoil, requiring all transactions with the companies to wind down by November 21.
The Furia’s cargo reportedly belongs to Rosneft, and the tanker itself is already blacklisted by both the EU and the UK.
The sanctions threaten to disrupt one of India’s main sources of discounted crude. Refiners in India—now Russia’s largest oil customer—have indicated that imports from Russian producers may fall sharply as they navigate compliance with the latest restrictions, Bloomberg stated.
Germany and Denmark have also stepped up inspections of older vessels suspected of carrying Russian crude through European waters, a move targeting ships in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
At 23 years old, the Furia exceeds the typical operational age limit of about 18 years for oil tankers, adding to the scrutiny.
Previously, it was reported that India’s leading oil conglomerate, Reliance Industries, has effectively halted purchases of Russian crude following new sanctions introduced by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, according to the statement issued by the Reliance Industries.
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