Three tankers sanctioned by Britain for transporting Russian oil fly the flag of a country in London.
Industry data show Galaxy, Liberty, and Regal have been shipping oil to Moscow this year. Also, have switched to sailing under the flag of Barbados, one of the world’s most popular ship registries. The Barbados Shipping Registry is based at the country’s high commission in London and enjoys diplomatic immunity.
The connection to London would make the British government uncomfortable. This is because the three tankers were identified this summer for their role in helping to destabilize Ukraine. At the time, one of the tankers had a different name. Belonged to Russia’s national tanker company Sovcomflot, and sailed under the flag of Gabon.
Typically, merchant ships are registered in so-called open registries in countries without connection to where the ship is beneficially owned. The aim may be to make compliance with international maritime regulations more efficient and cost-effective. So-called flag states play an important role in ensuring industrial safety standards.
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office referred questions to the Treasury, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Giovanni Siniglio, executive director of the Barbados registry. It confirmed that the ships were temporarily registered under the country’s flag but declined further comment.
Price limits
In addition to sanctions against ships, the UK is also involved in limiting the price of Russian oil. Under the G7 initiative, companies can only provide primary services for Russian cargoes if the cost of transporting the goods is at or below a certain limit. In the case of crude oil, the limit is $60 per barrel.
Getting the Barbados flag is good news for the three airlines. The country is on the so-called “white list” published by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, which maintains high ship safety standards. Gabon is not rated.
Since the UK imposed sanctions, ownership of two tankers has transferred to ” unknown ” entities in maritime databases.
The Freedom (formerly known as the NS Laguna) loaded a Russian Urals crude oil cargo at Primorsk in the Baltic Sea on August 16 and is currently in the English Channel. According to shipping information compiled by Bloomberg, its final destination is India.
The Rigel, formerly the Primorsky Prospect, recently entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal after delivering a cargo of Russian crude oil to India.
The Galaxy, formerly the Korolev Prospect, arrived in the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk on August 12 after crossing the Northern Sea Route from the Bering Strait.
It is one of two ships previously part of a long-term charter for Russia’s Sakhalin-2 project. Before assuming that role, it must undergo modifications, which may be imminent in Murmansk.
