Tanker carrier Frontline, controlled by John Fredriksen, continues to transport Russian oil, CEO Lars Barstad tells media Dagens Næringsliv.
John Fredriksen-controlled tanker company Frontline has ”no specific policy regarding Russia” and thus continues freighting Russian oil from Russian ports, says the crude oil carrier’s Chief Executive Lars Barstad in an interview with Norwegian media Dagens Næringsliv.
”Frontline always adheres to all international sanctions,” Barstad says as cited by the media.
”As is well known, neither oil nor gas from Russia is subject to sanctions. Europe still imports large volumes of oil and gas from Russia every day,” he adds, pointing out that Frontline adheres to the import ban on Russian oil imposed by the US and UK.
However, Frontline has been cautious about sailing into the Black Sea, which ”has not been relevant for us,” Barstad adds.
Frontline is thereby another example of how sentiments on Russia are dividing the tanker market into two camps. As WPO has previously described, product tanker carriers like Maersk Tankers, Torm and Norden have stated they would decline transporting new Russian oil cargoes.
On the other hand, Hafnia CEO Mikael Skov recently told WPO that the carrier upholds international regulations, and that ”we don’t make our own special rules.”
Most recently, the CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, Harald Solberg, this week called on Norway and the European Union to impose sanctions on namely Russian oil.
