Key facts
- Tanker Agioi Fanendes carrying Russian diesel has no declared US destination.
- Senator Blumenthal warned of legal liability for handling Russian diesel imports.
- Cuba has faced diesel shortages and previously received sanctioned Russian tankers.
- Two other tankers carrying Russian diesel are reportedly under Western sanctions.
The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes, carrying approximately 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel, has altered its course from a planned arrival in New York on November 7. The vessel, which departed Primorsk on October 22, is now listed as "for orders," indicating no specific destination. This development follows warnings from US Senator Richard Blumenthal and other lawmakers to banks and port authorities against handling Russian diesel imports, citing potential legal liabilities under the 2022 Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act. The tanker's owners have been given until October 31 to provide details about the cargo's transaction. With its US destination uncertain, the diesel could potentially be rerouted to Cuba, which has recently experienced fuel shortages and has previously received sanctioned Russian tankers.