Greece extends Laconia Gulf naval drills that have halted Russian crude transfers

Greece has extended naval exercises in the Bay of Laconia by two more months, the longest extension so far, Bloomberg reports. The drills began in May and are aimed at stopping risky ship-to-ship transfers of Russian crude involving ageing tankers. According to Bloomberg, there has been no crude transfer in the bay since 4 May. The Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service issued the notice, and the government has presented the drills as a marine safety measure. Tracking data from Kpler and Bloomberg show that much of the transfer activity has moved elsewhere, including to waters off Egypt, Malta and West Africa.

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