Russian oil and products shiptoship (STS) operations near Greece's Kalamata decreased greatly in May following a Greek marine advisory banning ship traffic off the coast of the southeastern Peloponnese, LSEG and traders' information revealed.

STS operations have actually become more common given that Group of Seven and European Union determines to restrict the sale of Russian crude and oil items, which led to almost all Russian crude being shipped to Asia, needing a switch to bigger tankers for longer journeys.

International waters off the Laconian Gulf have actually turned into one of the most popular areas for Russian oil and items STS operations in Europe due to their distance both to Russian ports and the Suez canal, which offers access to Asian markets.

Greece, in an unusual relocation, has provided a series of Navtex notifications, or navigational cautions, flagging military exercises in the Laconian Gulf location in May, urging vessels to avoid the location. Most recently, Greece extended an advisory up to June 24.

There is a possibility that the Navtex will be extended for a longer period of time beyond June 24, a Greek defence ministry authorities informed Reuters.

The official added that STS transfers outdoors sea, beyond the area of Laconian Gulf, are challenging to conduct, and that may be a reason behind the decline in STS activity.

Tankers bring Russian oil have already had to leave Spain's Ceuta, previously a popular STS website, as Spanish authorities tightened up rules around ship-to-ship transfers in response to both sanctions and possible environmental dangers.

Urals oil STS operations have moved south to Egypt's. Damietta and Port Said ports, where Russian oil suppliers refill. Aframax oil freights to larger VLCCs (huge crude carriers),. traders said. However, the change to a more southerly area. incurs additional costs.

Russian oil items STS operations also moved from waters. off the southeastern Peloponnese early in April mostly to Malta,. where last month more than 320,000 lots of fuel and naphtha. was transferred for onward shipment, according to LSEG information.

A minimum of another 300,000 lots of oil products packed in. Russian ports in May are heading to Malta for discharge,. delivering information programs.

Four tankers filled with Russian high-sulphur diesel and. vacuum gasoil also unloaded to other tankers at the Port Said. Anchorage, from where cargoes are moving to Fujairah and Asian. countries, sources added.

No more Russian Urals oil supplies to the Laconian Gulf -. which because the start of the year have actually stood at 200,000-400,000. metric heaps monthly - are prepared in May after the current Urals. freight early in the month, which according to LSEG data was. 280,000 metric tons being delivered to India by the tanker Mur.