US sanctions force vessels with Russian oil to divert from India, sources say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A tanker berthed in Vladivostok in 2016. The US has imposed sanctions on some Iran-linked entities and ships linked to transporting Russian oil.
PHOTO: REUTERS
NEW DELHI – At least two vessels loaded with Russian oil bound for refiners in India have diverted to other destinations following new US sanctions, trade sources said, and LSEG trade flows showed.
The US Treasury Department this week imposed sanctions on more than 115 Iran-linked individuals, entities and ships, some of which are involved in transporting Russian oil.
US President Donald Trump has urged countries to halt purchases of oil from Moscow, threatening 100 per cent tariffs unless Russia agrees to a significant peace deal with Ukraine.
Three ships – the Aframaxes Tagor and Guanyin and the Suezmax Tassos – were scheduled to deliver Russian oil to Indian ports in August, trade sources said. All three vessels are under US sanctions.
Tagor was bound for Chennai on India’s east coast, while Guanyin and Tassos were headed to ports in western India, according to trade sources and Russian ports data.
Tighter Western sanctions aimed at cutting Russia’s oil revenue, seen as funding its war against Ukraine, have been increasingly hitting Russian oil supplies for India, which buys more than a third of its oil needs from Russia.
Tagor is now heading to Dalian in China, while Tassos is diverting to Port Said in Egypt, the data shows.
Guanyin remains on course to Sikka, a port used by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum.
Indian Oil, which was to receive the Tagor shipment, and BPCL did not respond to Reuters’ e-mailed requests for comment.
Zulu Shipping, linked to Panama-flagged Tassos and Tagor, and Guanyin-owner Silver Tetra Marine could not be reached for comments. Both companies are under US sanctions.
A Reliance spokesman said “neither of these two vessels, Guanyin and Tassos, is coming to us”.
Reliance has previously purchased oil in Guanyin.
Separately, two other vessels, the Achilles and Elyte, loaded with Russian oil, are preparing to discharge Russian Urals for Reliance, according to LSEG data. Both these vessels are sanctioned by Britain and the European Union. India has condemned the EU sanctions. REUTERS
