The tankers Aliai, Minerva Vaso and Grand Ace6, loaded with diesel fuel and bound for Europe, have changed their routes while in the Atlantic, Bloomberg reported, citing data from the Vortexa platform and information about the ships' locations.
The ships were loaded with diesel fuel in the United States. The Aliai was traveling to Gibraltar, while the Minerva Vaso and Grand Ace6 were heading to Amsterdam. After changing course in the Atlantic Ocean, the Grand Ace6 began signaling off the coast of Togo in West Africa, while the other two ships headed southeast, the agency reported.
Bloomberg assessed the incident as a sign of the global struggle for increasingly scarce fuel amid supply chain disruptions due to the war in the Middle East.
Earlier, European Commissioner Dan Jorgensen addressed EU energy ministers and urged them to ensure a reduction in fuel demand, especially in the transport sector. He noted that the growing fuel shortage was exacerbated by the small number of alternative suppliers and “refining capacity for certain products within the EU“.
Concerns about energy and fuel shortages in the EU were previously expressed by Shell CEO Wael Sawan. He estimated that European countries would face energy shortages as early as April due to supply problems from the Middle East. Savan noted that Europe has already experienced a reduction in jet fuel supplies. This will be followed by a shortage of diesel fuel, and then gasoline as the summer tourist season approaches.