Russian oil ship-to-ship transfers shift to Rotterdam and near Ceuta

Russian Urals oil shipments to Asia have been rising due to European limitations, while using larger vessels for long journeys East help buyers save money, making STS operations for Urals oil popular.

Russian oil sellers have restored ship-to-ship (STS) operations in Europe, in Rotterdam and near Spain's Ceuta, after EU sanctions and activist protests derailed such operations in Denmark, three shipping sources told Reuters.

Russian Urals oil shipments to Asia have been rising due to European limitations, while using larger vessels for long journeys East help buyers save money, making STS operations for Urals oil popular.

Russian oil is loaded on smaller Aframax or Suezmax tankers, but transport costs for journeys on such vessels to Asia are high, traders said.

STS to bigger VLCC tankers make shipping cheaper

STS to bigger VLCC tankers, which carry a maximum of 2 million barrels, make shipping cheaper.