Russia’s oil shipments through the Arctic Ocean are encountering increasing delays because of US sanctions, a fresh example of how the measures are adding friction to Moscow’s energy trade.
Ocean-going tankers have taken almost three weeks longer this year than last to deliver crude oil to northern China from Russia’s Arctic and Baltic Sea ports via the Northern Sea Route. The average voyage, from loading to discharge, has lasted about seven weeks this year, with several ships still to complete their deliveries. All those deployed are under sanctions from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control.