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When huge ships loaded with crude oil suddenly change their direction in the middle of the ocean, it is not a normal thing. This is a great sign of international diplomacy and global trade. Recently a similar incident has been seen in the South China Sea. Many tankers carrying millions of barrels of crude oil from Russia to China have suddenly changed their route and are now coming towards Indian ports at full speed.

Changed course of ships in the middle of the sea

According to ship-tracking data, a huge ship named 'Aqua Titan' left the Baltic Sea port in late January carrying Russian 'Urals' crude oil. Its fixed destination was Rizhao port of China. But in mid-March, after reaching Southeast Asian waters, the ship suddenly took a U-turn. Now this ship is going to reach New Mangalore port of India on 21st March.

This is not an isolated case. According to data from Vortex Limited, at least seven tankers carrying Russian oil have diverted mid-sea from China to India. Similarly, another Suezmax tanker named 'Zouzou N', which had departed from Novorossiysk in Russia carrying Kazakhstan's 'CPC Blend' crude, also turned back in early March while en route to Rizhao, China. Now it is expected to reach Sikka port in Gujarat on March 25.

How did the ships suddenly change course?

There is a big reason behind such sudden change of route of ships. In fact, due to the ongoing war in Iran, the oil supply to India from the Middle East has been badly affected. In view of this serious crisis and fuel shortage, America has also asked India to temporarily increase its oil purchases from Russia. After which Indian refineries showed their strength in the market without any delay and bought 30 million (30 million) barrels of oil from Russia within just a week.

dragon got a shock

For the last few months, when India had reduced its oil purchases from Russia, China remained the biggest and last support for oil exports to Moscow. But now the direction of the wind has completely changed. The turning of ships towards India is a direct blow to China. Interestingly, now not only India, but other countries like Japan and South Korea have also been allowed to resume purchasing oil from Russia. This may further reduce Russian oil going to China in the future.