A second oil tanker tied to Russia’s oil trade lost control while entering the Mediterranean Sea in less than a week — raising concerns about the condition and safety of vessels moving sanctioned Russian cargoes.
The vessel Chariot Tide, sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom for transporting Russian oil, began showing trouble as it approached Tangier, Morocco.
Tanker vessels that lack control in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes — the Mediterranean — pose collision and environmental hazards, especially when laden with crude or refined hydrocarbons.
Both tankers are part of the broader “shadow fleet” of older or opaque vessels used to transport Russian oil around sanctions.