US sanctions Sovcomflot and 14 of its crude tankers

The US Treasury designated Sovcomflot, Russia's largest state-owned shipping company, on 23 February and identified 14 of its crude oil tankers as blocked property, among them the Anatoly Kolodkin, NS Antarctic, Sakhalin Island and Krymsk. A general licence allows crude to be offloaded from the 14 ships for 45 days and permits dealings with other Sovcomflot-owned vessels. Maritime Executive reports that the tankers are registered in countries including Panama and Gabon and trade between Russian oil terminals and China and India. The action marked the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said it dealt "a huge blow to their shadow operations".

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