Ami Daniel: We are seeing a surge in cases of Russian tankers deliberately turning off transponders to circumvent sanctions

11.04.2022       

"We are seeing a surge in cases of Russian tankers deliberately turning off transponders to circumvent sanctions, — said Windward CEO Ami Daniel. — The Russian fleet begins to hide its location and exports. This applies not only to the transportation of oil, but also to oil products, says Daniel.

According to Windward, only in the seven days from March 12 to March 19, 33 cases of shadow activity were recorded Russian oil tankers — 236% more than in the same period a year ago. Oil is supplied to refineries in China and India, and some ships transfer oil to others on the high seas, the company claims.

"Yes, there are reports that a number of tankers with conditional Russian oil disappear from radar and their further fate for objective control becomes conditionally unknown”, — says Gromov from the Institute of Energy and Finance. According to him, in the «gray» private Chinese companies actively participate in schemes. At the same time, state officials strictly observe the contracts concluded with Russia. Gromov notes that it is not yet possible to estimate these volumes, since they are not indicated in official Chinese statistics, and it is extremely difficult to find information about how these companies operate in open sources.