Russian oil tanker docked in Wales even as UK moves to restrict access
A Russian oil tanker was moored at Milford Haven in south Wales on Monday, even as the government said it was considering sanctions to “restrict access” to British ports in the light of the war in Ukraine.
Pluto, a crude-oil tanker delivering supplies from Primorsk – which accounts for 30% of Russian oil exports – arrived in the UK on 26 February, where it remained on Monday morning.
Milford Haven is the closest port to the Pembroke oil refinery, owned by the US energy firm Valero, which supplies petrol, diesel and jet fuel to the British market.
The Guardian has approached Valero for comment on whether the Pluto has been offloading oil for use in its refinery. The vessel’s next destination is Derry, Northern Ireland, according to information from the marine traffic website VesselFinder.
Another ship, NS Champion, operated by the Russian state-owned shipping company Sovcomflot, is due to dock at the Flotta oil terminal in Orkney at 6pm on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport indicated that such deliveries could be included within a fresh package of sanctions due to be announced on Monday.
“We are aware of concerns about Russian-connected ships potentially docking in the UK and we are working rapidly to explore a range of measures to restrict access for them,” said the spokesperson.
“We are already discussing this issue with the Scottish government and the sanctions being considered are part of a wider package being worked up across the UK government.”
About 3% of UK gas demand is fulfilled by shipments of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), a super-chilled form of gas that can be transported by sea.
Terminals at Milford Haven and the Isle of Grain, Kent, have taken multiple consignments of LNG this month,
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