Tanker under sanctions changed its mind about bypassing the English Channel: Russian oil went straight

The tanker with Russian oil took a course to bypass the UK from the north, but then returned to the usual course on the way to the Suez Canal — through the English Channel. At the end of December, the vessel was added to the UK sanctions list, which promised to fight the passage of tankers with Russian oil through the strait.

The tanker Attica follows from the Baltic port of Ust-Luga to the transit point — the Suez Canal, it follows from the AIS data of the vessels. The vessel loaded up to 105 thousand tons of oil at the Russian oil terminal.

Traditionally, tankers travel through the English Channel, but Attica headed north, bypassing the UK from the north. And by December 3, he managed to climb to the Shetland Islands, deviating from the usual course by 300 miles. This was noticed in specialized publications.

However, then the ship took a reverse course and descended to the English Channel. On December 5, the ship is on its way to it.

It is not known what the maneuvering of the vessel is connected with. It is known that on November 25 it was included in the UK sanctions lists along with another 29 tankers.

British Foreign Minister David Lemmy said that a total of 73 tankers were under restrictions and London would continue to reduce Russia's revenues.

"Thirty vessels of the Russian shadow fleet, responsible for transporting billions of pounds worth of oil and petroleum products last year alone, have now come under UK sanctions. Taking into account the fact that half of the ships transported oil and oil products worth more than $ 4.3 billion last year alone, today this is the largest package of this kind in the UK," the minister said.

Earlier in London, they announced their desire to restrict the passage of tankers with Russian oil through the English Channel, but this is extremely difficult to do, since the main water area of the strait is international waters where the rule of free navigation applies.

Moreover, other vessels that have been sanctioned by the UK freely pass the strait. For example, on December 3, the tanker Vanguard completed the transit. It follows from Primorsk to the Suez Canal and can carry up to 160 thousand tons of oil.

Since August 17, Attica has been owned by China's Jun Lan Shipmanagement, according to Equasis. Perhaps, after the imposition of sanctions, there have been changes in its ownership and management or insurance. At least some navigation portals already indicate a tanker under the name Yi Meng Shan.

According to AIS vessels, most of the tankers that have fallen under UK sanctions continue to deliver Russian oil. The main threat of restrictions is the loss of insurance and the need to look for an alternative company. British companies insure 90% of the world's merchant fleet.