The Galaxy, the Liberty and the Rigel, all of which moved barrels for Moscow this year, have switched to sail under the flag of Barbados, one of the world’s more-reputable vessel-registration nations, industry data show. The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry is based at the country’s High Commission in London, which has diplomatic immunity.¹⁾

To get a Barbadian flag is good news for the three tankers. The country is on a so-called White List, published by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, of nations that maintain higher standards of ship safety. Gabon doesn’t have a ranking.²⁾