Third Russian diesel tanker changes course, leaving initial US-bound shipments in limbo
A third tanker carrying Russian diesel fuel has changed course after initially heading toward the United States, leaving the first three shipments associated with President Donald Trump's fuel agreement with Russia without confirmed US destinations.
The Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes, carrying approximately 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel, or nearly 300,000 barrels, turned away from the US East Coast about 400 nautical miles (740 kilometers) from New York, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 10, citing port records and vessel-tracking data.
The tanker departed Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk in late October and initially listed New York as its destination. It subsequently changed its destination signal to "for orders" and has been moving in a zigzag pattern since Nov. 9.
The vessel's manager, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd., told Bloomberg that the tanker was proceeding under orders because its final discharge port had not yet been confirmed.
Two other tankers carrying Russian diesel, Talisman and Leruo, had previously changed course and were no longer heading toward US ports, according to earlier reporting by the Financial Times.
Bloomberg reported that no Russian diesel cargo had reached the United States under the arrangement so far, according to vessel-tracking data.
The shipments follow an October agreement between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to the United States and international markets. The Trump administration subsequently authorized certain Russian diesel transactions through a temporary sanctions license.
The arrangement drew criticism from US Democrats, who argued that the purchases could provide Russia with additional revenue to finance its war against Ukraine.
The agreement was intended to help lower fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections, although critics questioned whether the relatively small shipments could significantly affect the US market.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries have raised questions about Moscow's ability to deliver the promised volumes.
Since early November, six Russian refineries have been attacked, representing approximately 1.7 million barrels per day of combined design capacity, according to Bloomberg's calculations.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak previously said Moscow aimed to export more than 2 million metric tons of diesel to global markets in November, while acknowledging that Ukrainian attacks could reduce available supplies.
Neither Bloomberg nor the vessel's operator identified a confirmed final destination for the Agioi Fanendes.
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