44 European countries have agreed on the introduction of measures against the Russian Federation’s so-called shadow fleet, which is used to circumvent international restrictions. The joint “call to action” aims to disrupt the fleet of about 600 vessels the Russian Federation uses to transport approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil per day.
“We have sent a clear message to those who support Putin’s attempts to avoid sanctions: we will not allow the Russian shadow fleet to pass freely through European waters and endanger our security,” the British government said.
At the same time, the FT writes that frantic demand has led to an increase in prices for old tankers, as secret buyers suspected of ties to Moscow have begun accumulating dozens of vessels suitable for transporting liquefied natural gas. This indicates that Moscow is preparing to tighten restrictions on LNG.
Starting in the second quarter of 2023, more than 50 LNG vessels changed owners to companies from the UAE.