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Greece extends naval advisory to discourage Russian oil ship-to-ship transfers

The Greek navy on Wednesday extended an advisory effectively prohibiting ship traffic off the coast of the southeastern Peloponnese that two sources said was focused on deterring shiptoship transfers of Russian oil off Greece.

Greece, in an uncommon relocation, over the past weeks has provided two NAVTEX notices for military exercises in the Laconian Gulf area, prompting merchant and other vessels to prevent the area. One of them was provided on May 1.

It was at first ending on May 9 however was extended today, said a defence ministry official who decreased to be named.

Following Russia's intrusion of Ukraine in 2022, international sanctions have actually made trading Russian crude and oil products increasingly difficult, triggering traders to look for loopholes to export them, consisting of offshore ship-to-ship transfers.

In current months, waters around Greece's southern coast and the Laconian Gulf have been meeting oil transfer points specifically for tankers carrying Russian oil onto other vessels.

Vessels are positioned beyond the limitation of 6 nautical miles from the shore to avoid freight and vessel checks by Greek authorities.

You can not perform an evaluation on a ship with a foreign flag in international waters. Unless a vessel carries a Greek flag your hands are tied, stated a second source with knowledge of the matter.

The NAVTEX advisory is an indirect method to prevent such activities.

A third government authorities stated that Athens plans to extend maritime advisories for military workouts in that location which might ultimately push away STS transfers near to Greek waters.

In April, reported that 4 tankers were stuck near the Laconian Gulf after the United States struck the vessels with Iran-related sanctions.

Russia has actually been coming to grips with the loss of insurance coverage and other shipping services as Western nations turn the screws on Moscow with monetary sanctions.

The European Commission is anticipated to propose sanctions on oil tankers in the so-called shadow fleet that transportations Russian oil outside the Group of Seven countries