Windward: One of Three Tracked Russian Diesel Tankers Still Signals US

General License 135 Allows Temporary Imports

In October, three tankers were reported to be sailing to the US with Russian diesel. General License 135, issued on October 9, 2026, temporarily permits Russian diesel imports into the United States. In a November 3, 2026 analysis, Windward reported that no cargo had reached the US under the license and that only one of the three tankers it tracked still appeared headed for the Atlantic coast. The analysis covers these three vessels only.

Three Tankers Under Watch

The report names Russia-flagged TALISMAN (IMO 9292060), Sierra Leone-flagged LERUO (IMO 9385831), and Malta-flagged AGIOI FANENDES (IMO 9798375). The EU, the UK, the US, or a combination of those jurisdictions sanctioned TALISMAN and LERUO. Their status creates political and compliance issues for buyers, port authorities, and marine service providers that deal with them.

AGIOI FANENDES is Greek-owned. The tanker is not under sanctions and appears to be the only vessel of the three on a route likely to end with a US port discharge.

AIS Destinations Change

Windward’s tracking shows that TALISMAN changed its AIS-declared destination from “Atlantic Coast FO” to “For Order” and sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar. LERUO changed its declared destination from “Atlantic coast for order” to “Brazil for order,” indicating that it may have abandoned its original US plan.

AGIOI FANENDES also changed its AIS entry. The tanker first signalled New York, then switched to “for orders.” Windward says it still appears to be sailing toward the northeast US coast. Windward’s assessment rests on AIS-declared destinations; it reports that no cargo has yet been delivered to the US under the license.

Implications for Buyers and Operators

The routes illustrate the compliance exposure linked to vessels with a sanctions history, even where a general license temporarily permits a cargo type. For charterers, port authorities, and service providers, changes to an AIS destination can signal a change in the commercial or compliance assessment behind a voyage.