Oil tankers carrying Russian crude from the Baltic Sea to Asia have begun taking a longer route around northern Scotland, in order to avoid passing through the English Channel, after the United Kingdom tightened its measures against Russian “shadow fleet” ships.
Ship tracking data revealed a sudden change in the routes of tankers linked to Russia in the North Sea, after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Wednesday that British forces were now authorized to intercept and inspect ships subject to sanctions as they crossed British waters.
One notable example is the tanker Deneb, which was near the east coast of England heading toward the English Channel, then turned north to avoid that route, according to ship tracking data. Also, the tanker “Actros”, coming from the port of Murmansk, changed course off Bergen in Norway, heading around the Shetland Islands and then down along the west coast of the United Kingdom.
In addition, other Baltic Sea-bound tankers, which typically relied on the shorter route through the Channel, were observed to be veering west to avoid passing through it.
Going around northern Scotland means extending the journey from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean by about two days, an increase of about 25% compared to the usual route between England and France.
Similar shifts were recorded two years ago after Britain expanded its sanctions on the Russian energy sector, but ships later returned to using the canal after it became clear that they would not be prevented from crossing.
This latest British move comes after exercises conducted by military and security experts on scenarios that include boarding ships that do not comply with orders, are armed, or use advanced technologies to avoid detention, according to a government statement issued this week.
Meanwhile, London is escalating its pressure on Russia’s “shadow fleet,” as part of a broader European move aimed at reducing Russian oil revenues and curbing sanctions circumvention.
