A TANKER heading to the US carrying an estimated 400,000 barrels of Russian crude oil reversed its course earlier this month, and docked in Milford Haven on Sunday, it has been confirmed.

Ariel left Primorsk in Russia on January 29 to head across the Atlantic, before turning back towards the UK on February 14, according to data from websites Marine Traffic and TankerTrackers.com.

Its arrival came as the UK government was undecided allow Russian ships to land their cargo on British shores, The Independent reported today.

A US official told saud they believed the decision may have been informed by concerns over impending sanctions on Russia, even as early as mid-February.

Valero, which has its global headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, and owner of the Pembroke Oil Refinery, did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication to the national paper. Further requests for comment by The Pembrokeshire Herald to the refinery were also met with no comment, and this paper was referred to Valero’s corporate team, who are yet to respond.

According to The Independent, Ariel spent several days just off the UK’s coast before docking at the terminal and it is carrying an estimated 400,000 barrels of crude oil. This could be worth around $39 million (£29m) based on the Brent crude oil-price benchmark currently at around $98 per barrel.

The tanker is now docked at the Valero, the Port Authority website confirms.

The report in The Indepedent came following an announcement by the government that they are to restrict the movement of Russian vessels in UK waters.

A row erupted on Facebook when it became public knowledge that an oil tanker was headed from Primorsk, via the Baltic Sea. The next vessel, The Louie, currently sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands, is due to arrive as soon as March 4.

The Pembokeshire Herald published an article online, which has been commented on by hundreds of people against The Louie entering Milford Haven port.

Milford Haven Port Authority said it is awaiting direction from the UK Government regards ships from Russia heading for Milford Haven.

On his Twitter feed, The Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, posted “Today I’ve written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels. Given Putin’s action in #Ukraine I’ve made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow.”

Is is currently unclear if the new direction will mean that The Louie would need to turn around. That would depend if the ship was chartered or controlled by any person connected with Russia.

The government said that it would “seek to support UK ports identyifying Russian ships within the scope of the above, and will communicate directly with the relevant ports when we identify ships bound for UK ports who fall within scope [of the new rules].”