Malta-flagged Iranian crude oil supertanker "Delvar" is seen anchored off Singapore (Reuters/Tim Chong)
Iran, Unable To Sell Oil, Stores It On Tankers -- Washington Post
Increasingly hard-pressed to find buyers for its petroleum, Iran has been routinely switching off satellite tracking systems on its sea-bound oil tankers for more than a month, in what U.S. officials and industry analysts describe as a cat-and-mouse game with Western governments seeking to enforce sanctions on Iranian exports.
The unusual tactic was begun in early April and affects a quarter of Iran’s tanker fleet, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which has been monitoring the practice. The move, a violation of maritime law, is only modestly effective in cloaking 1,000-foot-long tankers as they ply the oceans in search of open ports and willing buyers. But it underscores Iran’s precarious position as it faces ever-tighter Western restrictions against its oil industry, which provides the bulk of export and government revenue.
Read more ....
My Comment: RT reported on Iran shutting off their oil tanker GPS systems last month .... that the Iranians are selling oil on the black market, and they are trying their best to hide their customers. What does this tell me .... sanctions are starting to bite .... and will probably get worse when efforts to track these vessels in finding out who are the customers to this oil become policy.
No comments:
Post a Comment