Sanctioned Tanker Carrying Russian Crude Set to Reach Ehime Port
A tanker carrying Russian crude oil is expected to arrive at Kikuma Port in Ehime Prefecture on May 2. Amid disruptions in Middle Eastern crude procurement, this is expected to be the first import of Russian crude since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The vessel, Voyager, is under sanctions from multiple jurisdictions including the United States and the European Union. However, the crude it is carrying is believed to come from the Sakhalin 2 oil and gas project in Russia’s Far East, which is exempt from Western sanctions.
METI Request Behind Shipment
A spokesperson for Taiyo Oil said the shipment was made following a request from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The company said it understood the cargo was not subject to sanctions and noted it had suspended imports of Russian crude after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, resuming only under government instruction.
Energy Security Amid Middle East Tensions
The Oman-flagged tanker was built in 2019 and was designated a sanctions target by the US Treasury in January 2025 in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was later added to EU sanctions lists.
Japan continues to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Sakhalin 2. Because oil and gas fields often produce crude oil alongside natural gas, crude oil is also being shipped as a byproduct of the project.
An official from the energy agency said that if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues, any decision on resuming imports of Russian crude oil outside Sakhalin 2 would be made “based on national interest and a comprehensive assessment.”
Original Article: Sanctioned Tanker Carrying Russian Crude Set to Reach Ehime Port — Japan-Forward