Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, United States, has criticized the owner of the Greek tanker Agioi Fanendes for carrying a shipment of Russian diesel. This tanker, which recently loaded at the port of Primorsk in Russia, is currently en route to the shores of the United States, and Senator Blumenthal has warned the owner in a letter that delivering this shipment to the shores of the United States would be illegal.
Details of the Shipment and Tanker Route
The tanker Agioi Fanendes (IMO 9798375) loaded a claimed cargo of diesel at the port of Primorsk this month and has been moving westward after leaving the Baltic Sea. The declared destination of this tanker is "USNY" (New York). However, Senator Blumenthal emphasized in his letter that the delivery of this shipment is considered illegal due to existing laws.
Read more: Discovery of over 4,000 liters of smuggled diesel in Najafabad
Legal and Regulatory Consequences
In his letter, Senator Blumenthal referred to the clarity of the "End of Russian Oil Imports" law enacted in 2022, noting that this law prohibits all Russian energy products from being imported into the United States. He also emphasized that any exemption from this law requires Congressional approval and certification from the President regarding the end of the war in Ukraine, which has not yet occurred.
Blumenthal also mentioned the issuance of "General License No. 135" by the Treasury Department, stating that no license can override clear and explicit laws. In this letter, he requested the tanker owner to provide detailed information about the shipment, including the seller, buyer, charterer, insurer, and terminal operator. He also requested details about the directives the tanker owner has received from the Treasury Department.
This development comes as two other tankers are also heading from the port of Saint Petersburg to North America with claimed diesel shipments. Analysts believe that these two vessels are actually carrying Russian-sourced urea fertilizer, which is not under sanctions and is fully permitted for import into the United States.
Senator Blumenthal concluded his letter by warning shipping companies to take serious actions against carrying Russian diesel to U.S. ports and to refrain from continuing this trend.
Read more: Discovery of 176 smuggled fuel cards from a Peugeot 405 in Sirik · Drone attack on a Greek tanker off the coast of Bulgaria
