Russian crude oil is currently being transferred from smaller vessels to larger ones off the coast of Morocco, near the city of Nador. This method of transfer is being used to circumvent sanctions. Previously, these transfers took place near Greece, but due to efforts by the Greek navy to prevent them, brokers have shifted operations to Morocco.
According to news agency Bloomberg, Russian brokers have found a new way to exchange oil by transferring it from smaller vessels to larger tankers in the Mediterranean. The transfers near Morocco allow them to avoid detection and bypass sanctions put in place to restrict Russian oil exports.
The transfers are being conducted near Melilla, a Spanish autonomous region in Morocco. In the past, the Spanish government has blocked similar transfers near Ceuta, another autonomous region. On the coast of Morocco, crude oil is being transferred from smaller vessels to larger tankers like The Rolin, allowing the oil to reach its final destinations in Asia.
Bloomberg reported that in May, 730,000 barrels of Russian crude oil were loaded onto three ships at the port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea. Most of this oil is destined for Asia, particularly India and China. The increase in oil transfers between container ships is due to the price ceiling imposed on Russian oil exports, making these transfers a more common practice.