A Russian oil-laden tanker has reversed course in the South China Sea and is now heading to India, amidst a global energy crisis.
The Aframax tanker Aqua Titan is expected to arrive at the port of New Mangalore on March 21 carrying a cargo of Russia's Urals crude.
The vessel had loaded the oil from a Baltic Sea port in late January and initially signaled the Chinese port of Rizhao as its destination.
However, the tanker made an abrupt turnaround in Southeast Asian waters in mid-March and began heading toward India.
The move comes as the United States allowed India to increase its purchases of Russian crude oil, to combat the energy crisis caused by Iran shutting the Strait of Hormuz amid its conflict with Israel and US.
At least seven tankers carrying Russian crude have switched their destinations mid-voyage from China to India in recent weeks.
