Five sanctioned tankers off Venezuela reflag to Russia — NYT
Five sanctioned tankers near Venezuela changed their flags to Russian ones (photo: Getty Images)
Five more oil tankers subject to US sanctions and located near Venezuela have officially changed their flags to Russian ones. This is another attempt by Moscow to legalize its shadow fleet to circumvent international restrictions, according to The New York Times.
Camouflaging shadow fleet
Ships that previously hid their origin under the flags of other countries have now officially come under Russian jurisdiction.
The re-registration took place while the tankers were anchored off the coast of Venezuela, which is also under severe Western sanctions.
According to data from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, the Bella 1 and Hyperion have been transferred to the Russian flag. In addition to these, three other tankers in Venezuelan waters have similarly changed their registration in recent days.
Circumventing restrictions
All five ships are under US sanctions for transporting Iranian or Russian oil. After changing their flag, they officially declared the Russian cities of Sochi and Taganrog as their ports of registry.
One of the tankers disappeared from Venezuelan territorial waters earlier this week, despite the US naval blockade imposed on sanctioned vessels.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a naval blockade on sanctioned tankers. They were transporting Russian, Venezuelan, and Iranian oil.
The United States was planning a large-scale operation to intercept an oil tanker in the Atlantic, which Russia asked not to touch. Later, Moscow sent a submarine to escort the tanker.
