The technique consists in transshipping from one tanker to another a cargo of crude or derived products in order to cover the tracks.
Like a sleight of hand. While Western sanctions have been piling up on the Russian economy since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin is trying to protect its oil exports. For good reason: the European Union plans to impose a total embargo on Russian crude by March 2023. Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a partial mobilization in Russia coupled with rhetoric centered on the use of nuclear weapons led the Twenty-Seven to look for new avenues to sanction Russia and the entourage of the presidency.
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The fact remains that in the meantime, to circumvent the restrictions, Russia is using the “ship to ship” technique, which consists of transhipping from one tanker to another a cargo of crude oil or derivatives, in order to cover its tracks.
These maneuvers at sea began last April. Russian tankers operate in the international maritime zone where anchoring is possible. The “edge to edge” – or “ship to ship” – has thus greatly developed off the Greek port of Kalamata. There, no less than 41 ships in just six months carried out this type of operation, representing nearly 24 million barrels of Russian oil, against only 4 million the previous year.
Such menœWorks have also been reported off the Spanish enclave of Coutin, in Morocco, or in the area of the Azores islands, in the Atlantic. In this well-established maritime transport, opacity is the rule. At the time of the exchange, the transponders which ensure the radio links are cut. Russian tankers often fly another flag, notably Panamanian, while intermediaries have their brokerage companies registered in Dubai or Singapore.
Cargoes are destined mainly for India and China, but also for Turkey and several African countries. The interest is obvious for the buyers: the oil is delivered with very attractive discounts, granted by Russia.