Jonathan Saul

LONDON, (Reuters) – A Russian-operated tanker carrying oil from Russia was turned back by Britain over a week earlier. It has not yet found a port where it can discharge its cargo. Many other vessels will be facing the same situation as Russian buyers who have refused to trade with them following Moscow’s invasion in Ukraine.

The U.S. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that Russia would be banned from importing oil. Britain soon followed suit and said it will end imports of Russian oil by 2022.

Although the European Union did not provide any details about the possibility of the bloc imposing a similar ban, The EU executive, the European Commission has said that they would work to develop further sanctions.

Britain has banned Russian-owned and operated ships, as well as those chartered or registered, from its ports since March 1.

It is unclear what the situation looks like as Britain claimed that Russia may still be able to send oil and other gas because it was not its cargo, but the vessel.

However, dockers refused to load a tanker with Russian liquefied last week. This forced it to be discharged in France.

The NS Champion was operated by Russian shipping firm Sovcomflot, (SCF) and changed its course on February 28. It sailed from Britain to Denmark. Ship-tracking data at Eikon indicated that this happened earlier.

Last Wednesday’s position report was made by the vessel close to Denmark’s coast. Its status indicated it was underway and using an engine.

SCF failed to respond to an inquiry for comment. The ship’s crew was also unable reach.

Danish law states that ports must receive vessels provided they have enough space.

Danish authorities didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about whether they were in contact with the NS Champion.

According to Windward, 90 oil tankers carrying up to 65 million barrels Russian crude could be aboard. However, they have not yet reached their destinations.

Windward said that seven of the vessels carrying 5 million barrels oil were reporting their position as heading to America.

The European Union is divided over whether or not to prohibit energy cargoes that have a Russia footprint.

Others ships using Russian gas were able to transport their cargoes. Since March 5, two LNG tankers docked at ports in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. ICIS analysis showed this.

In an email comment to Reuters, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kolod stated that Denmark would like the EU take a collective decision about excluding Russian vessels.

“It is a difficult decision, and it will require careful preparation. It is something that you cannot just do,” he stated.

SCF was one of the Russian entities that the U.S. Treasury prohibited from raising capital on U.S. market markets in February. This shipping source claims will make it difficult for SCF to transact in the Moscow-listed business.

Alexander Brandt, an attorney at Reed Smith, stated that shipowners and operators had “failed to keep pace with the evolving sanctions and were concerned that activities that are allowed today will be prohibited tomorrow.”

Reed Smith shipping partner Nick Austin said that significant numbers of Russian-linked tanks carrying LNG and steel make UK port calls each year.

Austin explained that the cargoes and ships will have to be moved elsewhere.