Greek Tankers Navigate Unusual Route to Transport Russian Crude

In a surprising turn of events, three Greek-owned oil tankers are opting for an extended maritime journey to transport crude oil from Russia to Asian markets, bypassing the traditional shortcut through the Suez Canal.

The vessels—Agios Gerasimos, Nissos Antimilos, and king Philippos—are currently navigating from the Baltic Sea towards India, as per shipping data from Bloomberg. A fourth tanker named Amades is also reportedly on a similar path.

Instead of taking the usual route through Egypt’s Suez Canal and into the Red Sea,these ships are making their way around Africa. This detour considerably increases their travel distance by thousands of miles.

These tankers are carrying Urals crude oil, which is Russia’s primary export-grade product.With prices hovering below $60 per barrel, Western vessels can still legally transport this oil under existing regulations provided that they adhere to price caps.

While these lengthy voyages don’t violate any sanctions outright,they do raise eyebrows in the shipping community due to their unusual nature. The shipowners have remained tight-lipped about their choice of route; however, many European shipping companies have been steering clear of the Red Sea lately.

This avoidance stems from heightened risks posed by attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi rebels backed by Iran in that region. Even though taking this longer route means increased time and fuel expenses for operators,it might potentially be viewed as a safer alternative compared to navigating through potentially hostile waters in the Red Sea.

Experts in maritime logistics suggest that if more ships continue to shun the Suez Canal over security fears, we could see significant disruptions in global shipping timelines and rising freight costs for not just oil but various other commodities too.So while it might seem like a roundabout way to get things done now—think about how different cultures approach trade routes or even how tech companies adapt logistics strategies—it’s all part of navigating today’s complex geopolitical landscape.