Russia’s Shadow Fleet Evades Western Oil Sanctions
The Kremlin claims that Russia is immune to US President Donald Trump’s sanctions and the blacklist on which its two largest oil companies are placed. However, a closer look at the situation reveals a more complex picture.
Russia has built a fleet of shadow oil tankers that allow it to evade sanctions. According to Benjamin Hilgenstock, a senior economist at the Kiev School of Economics, “Russia has built a fleet of shadow oil tankers that allow it to evade sanctions.” These ships sail under obscure flags and smuggle oil from sanctioned countries.
The largest ships in this fleet serve Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, primarily sailing to India and China – the world’s most populous countries and the largest maritime importers of oil and oil products. Smaller buyers of Russian oil include Turkey, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
How the Shadow Fleet Operates
To cover its tracks, ships from the shadow fleet engage in various tactics. They transfer oil from ship to ship in international waters, where port control authorities have weaker oversight and sometimes in bad weather conditions, to conceal the origin of the cargo. Additionally, they disable or manipulate the automatic identification system, which broadcasts data such as position, speed, course, name, flags, and type of vessel.
In some cases, ships from the shadow fleet become “ghost ships,” hiding ownership details, changing names, and altering their flags to avoid detection. This has led to concerns about the environmental impact of these operations, as well as the safety of the crews on board.
The Economic Impact
The activity of this fleet has attracted particular attention after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as it is believed that the main beneficiary is the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Not only does Russia benefit from smuggling its main export and getting cash to fund its “war machine,” but it also uses these operations for “hybrid” espionage and sabotage against NATO countries in Europe.
The economic impact of this shadow fleet is significant, with nearly one in five tankers at sea being part of this fleet. This has led to concerns about the stability of global oil markets and the potential for further sanctions.
Conclusion
Russia‘s shadow fleet is a complex issue that highlights the challenges faced by Western countries in enforcing their sanctions against Russia. While the Kremlin claims that Russia is immune to these sanctions, it is clear that the country is using its fleet of shadow tankers to evade detection and continue its oil exports. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Western countries will respond to this challenge.
Original Article: “Shadow Fleet” and “zombie tankers”: How Russia evades Western oil sanctions — Vijesti