Russian Oil Tankers Search for New Flags to Hide From Sanctions

(Bloomberg) —

A chunk of Russia’s oil tanker fleet is being forced to change the flag they sail under as US and UK sanctions heap pressure on Moscow’s shipping network.

The Barbados ship registry said that by the end of the month it will have asked a total of 46 ships to remove the country’s flag as a result of UK sanctions. Fourteen of these are also sanctioned by the US. Separately, Panama’s ship registry said earlier this month that it had begun to de-list 68 vessels that were sanctioned by the US.

Though all of the ships will likely find new flags, many vessels that serve Moscow’s interest ha…