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–August 9, 2024 8:30 AM :The Ministry for Transport has neither denied nor confirmed allegations that ships transporting Russian oil have been conducting ship-to-ship transfers near Maltese waters, potentially circumventing international sanctions.
These claims were first reported by Splash 24/7, a maritime news website, which suggested that Malta has become a prime destination for vessels carrying Russian oil following Greece’s decision to restrict such activities in its waters.
According to the report, between 1 May and 1 August this year, there were 54 cases of “ship-to-ship transfer” in Maltese waters, accounting for 44% of all such transfers in the Mediterranean region during this period.
Newsbook Malta reached out to the transport ministry for comment on these allegations and to inquire about any similar incidents over the past year. As of publication, the ministry has not responded to our queries.
This development comes in the context of international efforts to sanction Russian oil exports following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Countries like Russia and Venezuela have been accused of using vessels not directly linked to them to transport oil, in an attempt to bypass these sanctions.
The sanctions, aimed at severely impacting Russia’s oil-dependent economy, have not affected EU countries that still rely on Russian crude oil, such as Croatia and Bulgaria. However, estimates suggest that Russian oil production will decrease by 11% in 2023 due to these measures.
This is not the first time Malta has been implicated in such activities. Last year, Windward AI, a maritime sector artificial intelligence company, reported a 220% increase in oil being transported to Malta, suggesting that Russia was using the island as a transfer point for oil destined for the African continent.
The Greek navy’s recent decision to restrict ship-to-ship transfers in the Laconian Gulf, citing military exercises, appears to have shifted these activities to other parts of the Mediterranean. Kpler data shows that from 1 May to 1 August, there were 122 ship-to-ship transfers recorded in various regions, with the Malta lightering area accounting for the majority.
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