Russian Petroleum Transfers Reach Record High Amid Sanctions
According to the Kyiv School of Economics Institute, a total of 799 tankers were involved in ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations for Russian petroleum in the second quarter of this year. The institute notes that 438 of these vessels, or approximately 55%, had no connection whatsoever with G7 services such as ownership, management, flag state, or insurance.
STS Transfers Facilitate Consolidation and Smuggling
The KSE Institute explains that STS transfers enable the consolidation of Russian petroleum cargoes from smaller tankers to larger vessels, making it easier to transport them to their final destinations. Additionally, these transfers often result in cargo being transferred to unidentified tankers.
Enforcement Actions and Transfer Zones
A report highlights that 94% of the total volume of crude oil transferred in the second quarter of 2026 was carried out by sanctioned vessels. However, only 55% of the receiving tankers were listed on the sanctions list.
Major STS Hubs
The report identifies the Nakhodka Bay in the Pacific Ocean, the East Offshore Port Limits (EOPL) off the coast of Malaysia, and Hong Kong waters as the main hubs for all STS operations, accounting for 62% of total transfers. The Nakhodka region was the largest STS center, with 179 transfers.
Processed Petroleum Distribution
The area near the Suez Canal is home to all STS transfers involving processed petroleum products, accounting for 64%. Notably, these operations have shifted away from established Mediterranean locations and towards new centers such as the Strait of Gibraltar since 2025.
Impact of Sanctions and Large Tankers
STS transfers account for approximately 15% of Russia’s average crude oil exports by sea. However, this share temporarily increased to 19% in the first quarter of 2026 following US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil.
Sanctioned Tankers
The report notes that only a small proportion of tankers involved in STS transfers are subject to sanctions. During April and June 2026, sanctioned tankers accounted for 20% of total transfers, while receiving vessels listed on the sanctions list took delivery of 17% of transferred volumes.
Role of Large Tankers
The KSE Institute emphasizes the critical role played by large crude oil carriers (VLCC/ULCC) in this process:
“Of the 50 very large and ultra-large crude oil tankers that have taken Russian petroleum at STS locations, 33 are shadow fleet vessels; however, only 5 of these have been listed on at least one sanctions list by a legal entity (country/corporation).”
“STS transfers play a critical role in separating Russia’s sanctioned heavy oil export fleet from the main transportation network. This allows cargo to be transferred away from sanctioned tankers and delivered to end-users through a much smaller and more diverse fleet of vessels.”
Original Article: Ukrayna : “799 tanker STS yaptı” — Haberdenizde (Turkish) | View English Translation