US targets tanker named after Nursultan Nazarbayev with sanctions

An oil tanker named after Kazakhstan’s former President Nursultan Nazarbayev and owned by the Russian company Rosneftflot has been included in the latest round of U.S. sanctions.

On Jan. 10, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new wave of sanctions targeting Russia. The sanctions include Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, two of Russia’s major oil and gas companies, as well as approximately 100 vessels associated with its largest shipping company Sovcomflot, along with Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.

Among the sanctioned vessels is a tanker named after Nursultan Nazarbayev, constructed at Russia’s Zvezda shipbuilding plant. The keel-laying ceremony took place on July 6, 2020, coinciding with Nazarbayev’s 80th birthday.

The decision to name the tanker after Nazarbayev was reportedly made by the Russian government in recognition of his significant contributions to fostering strong relations between Russia and Kazakhstan.

The vessel type is Aframax, which is designed to transport crude oil and other liquid cargo. It measures 250 meters in length, 44 meters in width and has a carrying capacity of 114,000 tons. Media reports indicated that the tanker’s construction was scheduled for completion by September 2022.

Last week, Gazprom Neft Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft that operates a network of gas stations in Kazakhstan, was also included in the latest round of U.S. sanctions.