Mangaluru: First Russian ‘Urals’ crude vessel arrives at NMPA amid Middle East crisis

Mangaluru: First Russian ‘Urals’ crude vessel arrives at NMPA amid Middle East crisis

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 22, 2026: In a significant development amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, a cargo vessel carrying Russian ‘Urals’ crude oil has arrived at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) for the first time since the conflict began.

The vessel, named Aqua Titan, was initially en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Rizhao Port in China. However, due to changing geopolitical conditions, it diverted to Mangaluru. The ship reached the Single Point Mooring (SPM), a floating offshore jetty of the New Mangalore Port, on the night of March 21.

 

MRPL to process 96,000 tonnes of crude

The SPM facility is designed to handle large crude carriers. The Aqua Titan is transporting around 96,000 metric tonnes of Russian Urals crude oil, which will be processed by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).

With supplies of LPG, LNG, and crude oil remaining sensitive due to ongoing war conditions, the arrival of this vessel is expected to provide some relief to the regional supply situation.

More tankers expected by month-end

Sources said that two to three more oil tankers are likely to reach NMPA by the end of the month. Two vessels carrying 1.36 lakh tonnes and 2.6 lakh tonnes of crude oil have already departed from Yanbu Port in the Red Sea and are headed towards Mangaluru.

MRPL has an annual refining capacity of 18.2 million tonnes and requires about 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil every month. So far in March, NMPA has handled two crude oil tankers at the SPM and three at the main port.