A large number of formerly EU-flagged tankers, such as Cyprus and Malta, are leaving these registries as a result of transport sanctions. Russian oil. According to well-informed sources, from the beginning of October to date, the number of ships registered in the Cypriot registry has decreased by about 21%, while the Maltese registry has lost about 67 ships. This exit, according to sources of shipping brokers, concerns the migration of ships to other registers of countries that do not apply US and EU sanctions against Russia.

They avoid the embargo

As in the case of energy prices, where, according to some estimates, European decisions have a greater impact on the EU economy. than the Russian one, and because of the embargo on Russian oil cargo, the European fleet is reportedly losing out to major competitors: the three main countries whose ships are said to be buying tankers leaving the European Union are China, Turkey and India. According to official data so far, the “leakage” of tankers from the Greek registry is very limited and may not even be related to the sanctions against Russia, which have been in effect for Europe since December 5, and for the United States until January 19. , after the appropriate extension is granted by Washington.

In particular, according to Greek Statistical Office, Greek registry In January of this year, there were 1,833 ships, of which 449 were tankers. At the end of August, the number of tankers registered in the Greek register fell by 10 vessels to 439, with a corresponding decrease in their total throughput. The current picture remains to be seen, given that exits accelerated, as noted above, in other registers from early October onward, when it became clear how the embargo on Russian oil and oil product shipments would be implemented. However, a corresponding statement from ELSTAT is not expected before the end of January.

“Dark Fleet”

The “leakage” of tankers from the Greek registry is very limited and may not even be related to sanctions in Russia.

As maritime shipping sources explain, the exit from the European registers, in addition to the blow that it inflicts on European shipping in general and its role as the largest shipping power in the world (at the mercy of the strong Greek shipping), densifies the ranks of the so-called global “dark fleet”.

The Dark Fleet or “Dark Fleet” is now the name given to the collection of those ships that are trying to get out of large agreed registries and pass under the sanctions radar, often changing names and owners so as not to get on the lists of ships and shipowner companies that are deprived of the opportunity to trade or have relations with banking system in the US and Europe. So they continue to transport Russian oil and oil products, and even at very high rates, due to the relative risk.

The information, which by its very nature is difficult to compare, indicates that a greater number of these vessels are passing into the final possession of Turkey, regardless of which flag they fly or the shipowner’s headquarters is in an offshore jurisdiction. As Cathimerini wrote on Thursday, at a time when Russian oil imports to the EU are sharply declining, and with it Russia’s revenues, this is working, according to a report from the Research Center for Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a new channel for Russian hydrocarbons to enter the Old Continent through Turkey.

Obsolete ships

For the most part, the tankers added to the “dark fleet” are old, obsolete ships that have had their lives extended by this lucrative activity (shipping sources say they charge up to three times the rate of the preferred market, which is boosted anyway) . Due to their age and their opportunistic role, they are often not properly maintained, increasing the risk of environmental accidents.