An India-bound tanker carrying Russian crude oil has made a U-turn in the Baltic Sea. This signals possible disruptions to oil trade after the US tightened sanctions on Moscow.

The vessel Furia was en route to India but reversed course near Denmark and Germany. It is now idling in the Baltic Sea. The tanker, carrying about 730,000 barrels of Urals crude loaded from Russia’s Primorsk port on 20th October, initially listed Gujarat’s Sikka port as its destination. However, it then changed the destination to Port Said in Egypt.

The move follows new US sanctions on Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil. These require all transactions with them to end by 21st November. The sanctions could severely impact India’s access to discounted Russian crude, a key import for its refiners.

Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum, both major buyers of Russian oil, are reportedly turning to Middle Eastern suppliers. This shift is to remain compliant with sanctions.

The Furia—already sanctioned by the EU and UK—is owned by Seychelles-based Whispering Willow Corp. It is managed by Azerbaijan’s Harbour Harmony Shipmanagement.

European countries, including Denmark, have recently increased scrutiny of older tankers carrying Russian oil. This aims to curb operations of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” The Furia, now 23 years old, falls within that risk bracket.

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