An aging tanker loaded with Russian oil has been barred from entering India, prompting it to transfer its cargo to another vessel offshore. According to sources and ship tracking data, the tanker Andaman Skies is in the process of transferring its crude oil to the Ozanno, a ship flagged from Sao Tome and Principe. Despite many buyers distancing themselves from Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India and China continue to actively purchase it.
As of 2024, India has emerged as the largest importer of seaborne Russian crude, with such oil making up approximately 35% of its total crude imports. Recently, Indian port authorities denied access for the Andaman Skies to the port of Vadinar due to its seaworthiness certificate not being issued by a recognized Indian classification agency. The Tanzania-flagged tanker, carrying about 100,000 metric tons (around 800,000 barrels) of Varandey Russian oil sold by Lukoil from Murmansk, is currently situated off the coast of Mumbai, as indicated by LSEG shipping data.
The Aframax-class tanker Ozanno, built in 2008, is expected to deliver the crude oil to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Vadinar next week. IOC has not responded to inquiries regarding this transaction. According to Indian port entry regulations, tankers over 20 years old must possess a seaworthiness certification from a member of the International Association of Classification Societies or an entity authorized by India’s maritime administration.
Both the Andaman Skies and Ozanno are under UK and European Union sanctions, but they do not face sanctions from the United States or the United Nations, which India complies with. The Ozanno previously delivered 100,000 metric tons of Urals oil to Sikka in Gujarat last month. Western nations have imposed sanctions on numerous vessels suspected of enabling Russia to circumvent price cap restrictions, raising concerns about the safety and environmental risks posed by these aging tankers.