Three tankers with Russian sokol oil, previously stranded at sea due to transaction difficulties due to sanctions, are headed to China and India, according to Kpler cited by Reuters.

• The three vessels, the NS Century, NS Commander and Nellis, had been at sea since November.
• The NS Century and NS Nellis are carrying 2.2m bbl of Sokol to Chinese ports. Both tankers are currently subject to fresh sanctions for breaching the $60/b cap.
• Sources said the buyers were Chinese independent refiners.
• The NS Commander is not subject to US sanctions is carrying 0.6m bbl of Sokol towards Jamnagar, India.
• The backlog of sokol tankers has become the biggest disruption to Russia’s oil trade since sanctions were imposed on its industry.
• Over 10m bbl of sokol have been floating at sea over the past three months.