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Tanker changed destination after being hit by US sanctions

The 'NS Leader' altered course midway through its journey in the Alboran Sea after being hit by sanctions of the US Treasury, while headed to Primorsk. The sanctions were imposed on Feb 8, 2024, at 2 p.m. Washington time. Following the sanctions, the ship reduced its speed by 50 %, and the destination on the AIS changed to “for orders.” The ship had been intended to offload its cargo in 10 days. The Liberia-registered NS Leader Shipping Inc. as the owners was sanctioned for claims that the ultimate ownership of the tanker was within the Russian Federation through the Russian state-owned shipping company Sovcomflot and that the 'NS Leader' has repeatedly violated the $60 price cap, as the vessel was used in Nov 2023 to transport a Russian oil cargo sold in the UAE for over $80 per barrel.