Trump Eyes Shadow Fleet Sanctions Lift to Reduce Tanker Rates | Mariner News
The Trump administration is reportedly considering easing sanctions on so-called shadow fleet vessels in an effort to reduce record-high global tanker freight rates, a US official stated on Wednesday. This potential policy shift aims to increase the availability of vessels for mainstream crude and refined product movements.
The discussions center on allowing previously sanctioned ships to transport “legal oil,” meaning crude or petroleum products not subject to Washington’s punitive measures. This explicitly excludes Russian and Iranian oil, which remain under sanctions.
The stated goal is to facilitate increased crude and refined product outflows from the Gulf. Such a move could significantly expand the pool of vessels able to engage in legitimate trade, potentially driving down charter costs by injecting previously restricted tonnage into open markets.
This consideration comes days after President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, a move met with strong criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European nations, and some US Senate Republicans. Critics asserted that the diesel sanction lift would provide revenue to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
The strategic shift regarding the shadow fleet suggests an administration prioritizing the alleviation of elevated shipping costs, even if it means altering the operational landscape for vessels previously confined to illicit trades. While not a full legitimization, allowing these vessels to carry specific, non-sanctioned cargoes could fragment the shadow fleet and redefine their commercial viability and deployment patterns for certain market segments.
