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US sanctions impacting Sovcomflot's ability to trade, CEO of Russian tanker group states

U.S. sanctions are restricting tanker activity for Russia's top shipping group, Sovcomflot, the company's head said on Tuesday, as Washington tightens the screws on Moscow.

The U.S. enforced sanctions on Sovcomflot on Feb. 23 as Washington looks for to reduce Russia's incomes from oil sales that it can utilize to support its military actions in Ukraine.

Sanctions have actually impacted the company's operations, limiting. our location and business potential customers, Sovcomflot CEO Igor. Tonkovidov told reporters.

He included that as sanctions are a fairly new instrument. to the shipping market, the full impact of them is yet to be. seen.

Washington has actually stepped up pressure on Moscow in recent. months, presenting tougher constraints on its energy sector, a. key source of Russian earnings.

The U.S. Treasury's enforcement arm OFAC has actually also designated. 14 petroleum tankers as residential or commercial property in which Sovcomflot has an. interest.

Sovcomflot, which was previously one of the world's leading. tanker operators, carried 75 million metric lots of oil in. 2023, primarily to the markets of China, India and the. Mediterranean.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the West is attempting. to throttle the Russian economy and turns down sanctions steps.

There are hundreds of aging oil tankers that form part of a. parallel fleet of vessels transferring Russian oil and a. $ 60-per-barrel cost cap on Moscow's oil exports.

About 20-25% of Russian oil is carried by tankers. controlled by Russian business, and the staying volumes are. handled by the so-called shadow fleet, Tonkovidov stated on the. sidelines of the National Oil and Gas Online Forum in Moscow.

The neutral (shadow) fleet serves the lion's share of. ( Russian) oil exports. These are not intense horses, but old. ships. This is a challenge for insurance provider, he stated.

Eight percent of the fleet associated with the transportation. of Russian oil have actually fallen under blocking sanctions, he stated,. adding that this tightens tonnage for the transport of. Russian crude oil and items.

(source: Reuters)