Shadow tanker that broke Cuba fuel blockade loads Arctic crude in Murmansk
Ship tracking data shows that the 250-metre-long tanker on 27 April crossed the Norwegian–Russian maritime boundary and proceeded towards Kola Bay. In the coming days, it is expected to load crude at one of the two floating storage units in the area before once again heading out to sea.
It remains unclear whether the vessel will return to Cuba with another cargo.
The Anatoly Kolodkin arrived in Cuba in late March carrying what Russian authorities described as “humanitarian aid”. It was the first oil shipment to the island in three months.
Cuba has faced severe fuel shortages following a tightening of US restrictions that curtailed supplies, including shipments from Venezuela, long the island’s main oil supplier.
The Anatoly Kolodkin is part of the so-called shadow fleet transporting sanctioned Russian oil to international markets. It is owned by LLC Yuzhny Flot, a company managed by SKF Arktika and associated with the Sovcomflot group.
The tanker, along with Yuzhny Flot, SKF Arktika and Sovcomflot, is subject to international sanctions.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Arctic prepardness dominates Canada-Finland bilaterial meeting, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: European Commission names former Finnish PM as EU-Arctic relations advisor, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: Denmark to expand Arctic surveillance with purchase of long-range drones, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Norwegian police move training north as Russia eyes body-snatching law, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia warns of rocket splashdowns north of Varanger and Bear Island
