"US Sanctions Prompt Russian Oil Tanker U-Turn, Sparks Shadow Fleet Concerns"

A Russian oil tanker, the NS Leader, abruptly changed course off the coast of Portugal after being hit with US sanctions, indicating the impact of the measures. The tanker, ultimately owned by the Russian Federation, was originally bound for a Baltic Sea port but altered its destination to "for orders" following the sanctions. This move echoes a similar maneuver by another sanctioned tanker, the Viktor Bakaev, which is now anchored in the Black Sea. The US Treasury also sanctioned several companies associated with the NS Leader, asserting that the Russian Federation is its ultimate owner.