RoydadNaft –  The discharge of a Western-sanctioned tanker loaded with Russian crude destined for Indian Oil Corporation has been delayed at Paradip port in eastern India because port authorities are still verifying the vessel’s insurance cover issued by a Russian insurer, three industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Aframax Tiger 6 – sanctioned by the EU and UK – was scheduled to offload its cargo of ESPO-grade crude on November 23. LSEG shipping data showed the vessel still floating near the port on Wednesday afternoon, though two sources said berthing procedures were now underway.

The hold-up stems from stricter insurance rules India introduced earlier this year for vessels calling at its ports, particularly older tankers and the so-called “shadow fleet” that carry most sanctioned Russian oil.

Since April, ships insured by companies outside the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG) – the 12 Western clubs that insure 90% of global tonnage – must undergo mandatory online verification of their insurance documents before berthing is allowed. Many shadow-fleet vessels rely on non-IG insurers, including Russian providers.

Insurance for Tiger 6 was provided by Russia’s Soglasie Insurance Co Ltd, the sources said. The crude cargo itself was supplied by a non-sanctioned trading entity.

India officially recognises protection & indemnity cover from 19 non-IG insurers, eight of them Russian, enabling the country to continue importing discounted Russian barrels despite Western sanctions.

Neither Soglasie nor Indian Oil Corporation immediately responded to requests for comment.

The incident highlights India’s increasingly rigorous port-security checks while it balances energy security needs with compliance to its own tightened regulations on shadow-fleet vessels.