Russian Oil Tanker Fleet Severely Hobbled by Last Month’s US Sanctions
- More than 60% of Jan.-10 sanctioned Russian tankers idled
- Fate of fleet will determine how easily Russia can deliver oil
The latest US sanctions on Russia’s oil trade have brought a swath of tankers that deliver Moscow’s crude to a halt — reinforcing the significance of the measures in any negotiations over ending the war in Ukraine.
About 60% — 94 out 154 — of the active tankers blacklisted by the outgoing Biden administration last month for their involvement in the Russian oil trade have stopped hauling barrels for Moscow or anyone else, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. Another seven were under construction or undergoing sea trials.