- Russia’s oil tankers face flag changes due to US and UK sanctions, disrupting its shipping operations.
- Barbados and Panama are delisting Russian-linked ships, pushing them to find alternative registries.
- Sanctions pressure has led Russia to rely on lesser-known flag states, impacting maritime safety standards.
Sanctions from the US and UK are forcing Russia’s oil tanker fleet to adapt by changing the national flags under which they operate, creating logistical challenges and disruptions in the shipping network, reports gCaptain.
Barbados Delists 46 Vessels
The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry is removing 46 Russian-linked vessels from its flag list due to UK sanctions, though it excludes ships sanctioned solely by the US.
Many of these ships are now re-registered under flags from countries like Tanzania, São Tomé, and Príncipe.
Panama Aligns with Global Sanctions
Panama is taking a similar stance, delisting 68 vessels tied to US sanctions.
This follows the country’s rule changes, which aligned its registry policies with US, EU, UK, and UN sanctions, further squeezing Russia’s shipping network.
Impact on Russia’s Shipping Operations
The sanctions and delistings underscore the logistical strain on Russia, which has had to turn to less reputable flag states to maintain its maritime operations.
This disrupts the safety and reliability of its oil logistics, critical to its economy and war efforts.
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Source: Bloomberg
