U.S. authorities intercepted a New Orleans-bound ship from Russia on suspicion that its cargo might violate a federal ban on Russian oil imports enacted after that country invaded Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Daytona tanker is now moored in the Mississippi River at St. Rose, near the community’s volunteer fire department. On Wednesday afternoon there appeared to be no activity on board.
The ship’s intended destination was unclear. A Port of New Orleans spokesperson said it was headed for the Valero terminal in St. Charles Parish. A representative for Valero didn’t return a message Wednesday.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s press office didn’t respond to an email Wednesday.
But, according to The Journal, the ship was carrying fuel oil and vacuum gasoil, and was scheduled to dock somewhere in or near New Orleans earlier this week. Vacuum gasoil is refined into gasoline and diesel, the Journal report said.
A representative for the company that chartered Daytona told The Journal that it fully complies with all laws, including federal sanctions.
The government’s March embargo banned imports of Russian crude oil, petroleum, liquefied natural gas and coal.
The Journal report said the ship was being checked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
At issue is whether Daytona’s load originated in Russia, or if the ship was passing through with cargo from another country.
A terminal on Russia’s Taman peninsula in the Black Sea transports products from Russia and Kazakhstan, according to The Journal, though the report said tracking data indicated Daytona’s cargo came from Russia.
The U.S. ban does not include products from Kazakhstan.
CORRECTION: Earlier versions of this story said the ship was headed to the Valero terminal at Meraux in St. Bernard Parish.
