NYT: Russia's 'shadow fleet' has reached 17% of the world's oil tanker fleet

Russia's "shadow fleet" currently includes about 940 tankers, which is 17% of the world's total oil tanker fleet. About writes The New York Times with reference to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The Russian "shadow fleet" grew by 45% in a year. Most of the vessels are worn-out ships more than 20 years old, often without insurance and with non-transparent ownership.

They change flags, falsify their location data, and transship oil on the high seas.

Experts warn that the shadow fleet not only undermines the effectiveness of sanctions, but also creates huge risks – from environmental disasters due to the accident of old tankers to possible sabotage of underwater pipelines and cables.

After the EU banned imports of Russian oil by sea, Moscow began actively selling it to China and India. To avoid the price cap of $60 per barrel, Russian ships resorted to "gray" schemes.

Nevertheless, Western governments are trying to put further pressure. The European Union alone has added more than 500 such vessels to its sanctions lists, and the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia are taking similar steps.

But Russia continues to buy new ships and replace those that are banned.

"In America, there's a terrible concept: Whac-A-Mole. Sanctions circumvention is a bit like that"david O'Sullivan, the EU sanctions representative, said.

At the same time, he emphasized that the maintenance of the "shadow fleet" costs Russia "much more."

• On September 12, it became known that India's largest port operator banned the acceptance of shadow fleet tankers Russia.