Following its September pledge to supply Syria’s fledging new regime with 1.65mn barrels of crude oil, Saudi Arabia loaded 800,000 barrels onboard the Petalidi earlier this month, which is destined for the port of Baniyas. The Petalidi loaded 500,000 barrels of Khafji grade crude from the Saudi-Kuwaiti Neutral Zone on 7 October, followed by 300,000 barrels of Arab crude from Ras Tanura two days later according to data intelligence firm Kpler.
Signalling Baniyas on AIS, the vessel is currently rounding the Cape of Good Hope thereby avoiding Suez tolling fees. The route greatly extends its sailing time in comparison with the Red Sea route, and the vessel is due to arrive on 16 November. (CONTINUED - 328 WORDS)