The largest one-time transfer of Russian oil from the Baltic ports bypassing the EU countries continues. The caravan goes on its own without an emergency. However, in In the East Siberian Sea, tankers had to cling to the shore to bypass the ice fields.
Eight tankers controlled by Sovcomflot continue their journey along the Northern Sea Route to China. According to AIS vessels, the flotilla is sailing through the East Siberian Sea and will soon begin its transition to the Chukchi Sea, after which it will enter the Bering Strait. The flagship group of six tankers has about 400 miles to go on the shortest route to Asia. The vessels have already traveled 2,000 miles from the assembly point in The Kara Sea.
On August 14, Viktor Bakaev, Liteyny Prospekt, Ligovsky Prospekt, Vostochny Prospekt, Dynasty and Jagger pass by Wrangel Island from the south. Approximately 300 miles behind them are the Primavera and Mirabelle.
Judging by the AIS data, the tankers were forced to go ashore and some of the vessels are in the 12-mile territorial waters of Russia to bypass the ice fields. The vessels go on their own, and already at the exit to the Chukchi Sea, the nuclear icebreaker Ural is waiting for the flotilla.
Previously, vessels did not use such a coastal route, but they had to start doing it last year due to the deterioration of the ice situation in the area. This route is also used by LNG tankers of the Yamal LNG project. The other day, the Vladimir Voronin ice-class gas carrier passed by the flagship group of oil tankers, which is returning from China.
It is planned that the tankers will deliver oil to China after August 20. They can carry more than 950 thousand tons of oil, whose current market value exceeds $ 500 million. The current operation will be the largest in the history of the Northern Sea Route. All tankers carry oil from the Baltic ports and, obviously, one of the reasons was not only the navigation season on the Northern Sea Route, but also the frequent seizures of ships with Russian oil off the coast of the EU.
All tankers of the caravan are under sanctions and are under the control of Sovcomflot. Sending them as a group may also save money on ice wiring.