Malta replaces Greece as Europe’s hotspot for ship-to-ship transfers of Russian oil

Malta has emerged as the top European destination for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of Russian oil in the wake of the Greek navy’s decision to deter such activities in the Laconian Gulf.

Since May 1, citing military exercises, the Greek navy has put out of bounds an area in international waters southeast of the Peloponnese islands, six nautical miles off the coast of Laconia, a patch of water that has seen Russian-linked tankers dot the horizon over the past couple of years. As a result, there has been a tanker exodus from Greek waters this summer to new sites across the Mediterranean and further afield.

Kpler data shows that from May 1 to August 1, there were 122 STS transfers recorded in various regions. The Malta lightering area accounted for the majority, with 44% of transfers, followed by Augusta in Sicily with 11 transfers (9%), and Lome in Togo with nine transfers (7%).