Russian Oil Tankers Head to Cuba as Blackouts Deepen Crisis

Russian lipid tankers caput toward Cuba with caller crude and diesel cargoes arsenic the land faces worsening blackouts. Credit: Flickr / Alex Malev/ CC BY SA 2

Russian lipid tankers are moving toward Cuba with ample crude and diesel cargoes arsenic the land faces worsening blackouts and mounting substance pressure. The situation has deepened aft a crisp diminution successful supplies from Venezuela, historically Cuba’s main lipid provider, owed to U.S. unit connected shipments, governmental turmoil successful Caracas, and the disruption of long-standing vigor ties.

Vessel-tracking information from maritime analytics steadfast Kpler shows that the sanctioned Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin loaded 730,000 barrels of crude lipid astatine the larboard of Primorsk connected March 8.

By Wednesday, the vas was crossing the eastbound Atlantic with Cuba listed arsenic its destination. Kpler information indicates that the tanker is owed to unload astatine the Matanzas lipid terminal successful bluish Cuba astir March 23.

Russian lipid tankers item Cuba’s substance dependence

The Anatoly Kolodkin sails nether the Russian emblem and belongs to Sovcomflot, Russia’s authorities shipping company. The vas besides appears on sanctions lists imposed by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Its travel underscores Russia’s continuing relation successful supporting Cuba’s substance proviso astatine a clip erstwhile the island’s powerfulness strategy remains nether terrible strain.

Cuba besides awaits a diesel cargo from Sea Horse

A 2nd vessel, the Sea Horse, which sails nether the Hong Kong flag, is besides moving westbound with substance linked to Cuba.

According to Kpler, the tanker loaded astir 200,000 barrels of diesel successful precocious January disconnected the seashore of Cyprus done a ship-to-ship transfer. It near the Mediterranean connected February 13 and has since continued crossed the Atlantic.

However, the vas slowed betwixt precocious February and aboriginal March and followed an uneven route. By Wednesday, it was successful the northwestern Caribbean, astir 1,500 kilometers from Cuba’s coast.

Blackouts deepen arsenic caller supplies adjacent the island

These shipments get arsenic Cuba continues to conflict with repeated energy outages, substance shortages, and broader economical pressure. New crude and diesel deliveries could easiness immoderate of that unit successful the adjacent term, but they besides amusement however heavy the land inactive relies connected outer vigor support. At the aforesaid time, the voyages amusement that Russian lipid and refined products proceed to scope strategical destinations contempt Western sanctions connected Moscow and connected vessels tied to its shipping network.