Saturday, March 29, 2025
Russian Oil Tanker Diverts Route After Adani Group Ban
Ahmedabad: A Russian oil tanker blacklisted by the European Union and the United Kingdom has diverted its course to Gujarat’s Vadinar port after being denied entry at Adani Group’s Mundra port. The tanker, Noble Warrior, was originally scheduled to dock at Mundra but changed route following Adani’s recent directive restricting access to vessels under Western sanctions.
Reason for Diversion
Adani Group recently issued strict orders prohibiting any vessel sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, or the UK from entering its 14 ports across India. As a result, the Noble Warrior was forced to redirect its cargo to Vadinar instead of Mundra.
Cargo Details
According to vessel-tracking data from LSEG and Kpler, the Noble Warrior is carrying around 1 million barrels of Russian crude oil. The shipment was intended for HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), an Indian oil company.
Another Tanker Stranded
Tracking platforms also revealed that another sanctioned Russian tanker, Spartan, was anchored near Mundra port on Monday. This ship is similarly carrying about 1 million barrels of Russian crude. Following Adani’s ban, Spartan may also struggle to offload its cargo at Indian ports.
Shadow Fleet Operations
Since the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent Western sanctions, Moscow has relied heavily on so-called “shadow fleet” vessels to transport crude oil. These tankers often operate outside conventional global shipping networks, facing difficulties in securing insurance and financial services from Western institutions. The Noble Warrior is one such vessel in this shadow network.
Corporate Silence
Neither HMEL nor the owners of the Noble Warrior have commented on the issue. However, energy analysts warn that India may face increasing challenges in handling supplies of sanctioned Russian crude in the future, especially as Western restrictions tighten.
