Post #21837

Bloomberg: A tanker under the Russian flag passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf. A Russian-flagged tanker, the Arhimeda, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), transited the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf on Thursday. The ship, built in 2000, was traveling without cargo and initially indicated Iran's Kharg Island as its destination, later changing to "waiting for orders." The Arhimeda switched to the Russian flag in January, becoming one of four VLCCs under Russian flag. This shift occurred as the US imposed a blockade on Venezuela, leading some shadow fleet vessels to seek protection under the Russian flag.