- An old Russian Oil Tanker Denied Entry, Cargo Shifted at Sea
- Russian Crude Transfer Underway After Indian Port Refusal
- Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Faces Scrutiny as India Tightens Controls
An aged oil tanker that had its Russian crude cargo recently rejected by Indian port officials has started offloading its cargo to another ship at sea to finalize the delivery, sources and tracking data show, reports Reuters.
Cargo Offloaded off Mumbai Coast
The offloading is happening off the coast of Mumbai, where the old ship—laden with approximately 100,000 metric tons (about 800,000 barrels) of Russian crude—is anchored. The crude is being transferred to a newer tanker flagged in another nation, which will finish the trip and bring the cargo to an Indian state-owned refinery next week.
India’s Stand on Tanker Safety Regulations
Indian port officials denied entry to the older ship because it did not have a seaworthiness certificate from an Indian-recognized agency. Local law mandates that tankers older than 20 years should be certified by an organization approved by the Indian Maritime Administration or associated with an international classification body.
Russia’s Oil Still Flows to India Despite Global Sanctions
Despite global sanctions on Russian oil after the 2022 Ukraine war, India is still among the biggest importers of seaborne Russian crude, which accounted for roughly 35% of its imports in 2024. Indian refiners generally buy oil on a delivered basis, with the seller covering transport, insurance, and ancillary services.
Sanctions and Risks in the Shadow Fleet
The ships used in this exchange are sanctioned by European and UK authorities but not by the United States or the United Nations. India only follows UN sanctions. Another tanker from the same group successfully delivered Russian crude to another Indian port last month.
Western authorities have blacklisted numerous tankers thought to be facilitating Russia in circumventing price ceilings on crude and product exports. Such vessels sometimes sail without regular insurance or safety supervision, making them potential safety and environmental hazards at sea.
Fake Insurance Scandal Adds to Safety Concerns
Norwegian officials are now probing a firm that allegedly issued fake insurance certificates to dozens of old tankers employed in Russian oil exports. This is an addition to concerns regarding the increasing number of unregulated vessels in the world’s oil trade.
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Source: Reuters
