Tanker Reportedly Carrying Russian Diesel Drops New York Destination; Senator Warns Owner

What Happened

The Maltese-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes no longer shows New York as its destination. According to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the ship left a Russian port on 22 October with nearly 40,000 metric tons of diesel. Oilprice.com reported on 28 October, citing Lloyd’s List, that the tanker was idling off Skagen, Denmark, on 26 October; Oilprice added that the ship’s tracking showed “for orders,” meaning it had no declared port. CiberCuba reported on 30 October that the operator, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED), had said the destination “had not yet been nominated or finalized.” On 31 October, VesselFinder’s public AIS page listed the destination as “FOR ORDERS,” with a last reported position about two days old in the North East Atlantic. None of these sources reports a confirmed discharge port.

On 27 October, Blumenthal released a letter to EASTMED, which he identifies as the owner of the tanker. At that point, his office said, the vessel had shown a declared destination of the Port of New York and New Jersey as of 24 October, with an expected arrival on 7 November. These details come from the senator’s statement; the cargo has not been independently confirmed. The Maritime Executive, which reported the letter on 28 October, gives the vessel’s IMO number as 9798375 and says the cargo, claimed to be diesel, was loaded at Primorsk.

Blumenthal wrote that if the Agioi Fanendes arrived and discharged its cargo, the owner “would be engaged in an illegal transaction or aiding and abetting it.” He asked for details of the seller, purchaser, charterer, insurer and terminal operator, and of any guidance the company had received from the Treasury Department.

He sent a similar letter the same day to PetroVietnam about the tanker PVT Azura. gCaptain, which had reported on 23 October that the PVT Azura was carrying Russian diesel to Norfolk, retracted that article on 28 October. Its editor’s note says the vessel’s commercial operator told gCaptain the ship is carrying liquid fertilizer and provided cargo documentation. Apeks has not independently verified the cargo of either vessel.

Two Legal Positions

The senator’s position. The letter relies on the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-109), which bans imports of Russian energy products into the United States. Under the Act, the ban ends only if the President submits a certification to Congress covering three determinations about Russia: a withdrawal and ceasefire agreement accepted by Ukraine, no immediate military threat to NATO members, and recognition of Ukrainians’ right to choose their own government. Termination takes effect 90 days after the certification unless Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval. None of the sources cited here reports such a certification. Blumenthal argues that a Treasury licence cannot override the statute.

The administration’s position. On 9 October 2026, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 135. It authorises the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of Russian-origin diesel, including into the United States, under OFAC’s Russia sanctions regulations, until 7 April 2027. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on 11 October: “We’re going to do it with all the legal authorities we have,” adding that anyone in Congress who says an old bill prohibits it “is wrong.” The licence does not refer to the 2022 Act. None of the sources cited here reports a court ruling on whether the licence can permit imports the Act prohibits; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty describes the situation as one of legal uncertainty.

Other Tankers

The Maritime Executive reports that two other tankers left St. Petersburg in the same period with declared diesel cargoes bound for North America. It does not name them. The Maritime Executive cites a TankerTrackers.com assessment that these ships are in fact carrying Russian-origin UAN fertilizer, which is not covered by sanctions. Apeks has not independently verified this assessment.

Compliance Brief: What Operators Should Note

• An OFAC licence is not the whole answer. GL 135 addresses OFAC’s sanctions regulations. The statutory import ban in the 2022 Act is a separate question, and it remains disputed.
• The exposure extends beyond the owner. The senator’s information request names the charterer, insurer and terminal operator. Each should document its own legal basis before a U.S. discharge.
• Watch the dates. The senator set a 31 October deadline for replies. When he wrote, the declared arrival was 7 November; as of 31 October, the ship showed no declared port. GL 135 runs to 7 April 2027 unless revoked or amended.
• Declared destinations and cargoes are not proof. The Agioi Fanendes went from a declared New York arrival to “for orders” within days, and gCaptain withdrew its PVT Azura report after the operator disputed the cargo. Check AIS data and cargo claims against documents before acting on them.