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Approved tanker NS Century reaches China port to release Russian oil

The oil tanker NS Century, which is under sanction by the United States, showed up at the Chinese port of Qingdao late on Thursday to discharge its cargo of Russian crude oil, LSEG shipping information revealed.

The Russian-flagged tanker, operated by Russian shipping group Sovcomflot's (SCF) Dubai-based subsidiary SCF MGMT, is carrying about 700,000 barrels of Russian Sokol crude.

It is the fourth U.S.-sanctioned tanker to dock at Chinese ports this month to clear a backlog of Russian Sokol crude saved on ships.

Nevertheless, the previous ships - Liteyny Possibility, Krymsk and Nellis - had actually docked during temporary waivers of sanctions from U.S. measures related to the Ukraine war.

Officials at Qingdao port did not instantly respond to a. ask for comment. China's General Administration of Customs. could not right away be grabbed comment.

On Nov. 16, the U.S. Treasury's Workplace of Foreign Asset. Control (OFAC) enforced sanctions on three tankers, including NS. Century, for breaching a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian. crude oil exports. It also released general licences permitting the. offloading of crude oil, or other cargoes, from the three. vessels till Feb. 14.

United Arab Emirates-based Gallion Navigation Incorporated. is the signed up owner of the NS Century, according to OFAC. Gallion might not immediately be grabbed comment.

The G7-led price cap on Russian crude, imposed in December. 2022, intends to minimize just how much money Russia has offered for its. war in Ukraine by enabling Western-supplied insurance and other. services only on freights priced listed below $60 a barrel.

Beijing has stated that it opposes unilateral sanctions and. that China's regular trade should have regard and defense.

China has actually become the leading lifter of light sweet Sokol crude. after shipments to India fell following payment and shipping. problems since of to sanctions.

Sokol oil is a low-sulphur, light grade exported from the De. Kastri terminal on Russia's Sakhalin island by Sakhalin-1 LLC,. managed by oil giant Rosneft.

(source: Reuters)