Three Greek oil tankers are making detours of thousands of miles to deliver Russian crude from the Baltic Sea to customers in Asia.
According to a tracking data, the tankers Agios Gerasimos, King Philippos, and Nissos Antimilos are currently navigating around Africa, likely heading toward India. A fourth tanker, Amades, may also be following a similar route.
While Russian Urals crude is priced below $60 per barrel at the export point, Western tankers are not restricted from transporting Russian oil. However, it’s unusual for these vessels to bypass the typical route through Egypt’s Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
The reasons behind these extended voyages remain unclear, but many shipowners, including European ones, have been steering clear of the Red Sea due to the ongoing threat of attacks on merchant vessels by Yemen’s Houthi militants.