New Jersey governor cautions ports on Russian diesel shipments

State request and federal authorization

Governor Mikie Sherrill called on ports and terminal operators to decline Russian-origin diesel cargoes. She questioned the legal basis of the federal authorization covering such transactions and cautioned that penalties could follow. The federal side rests on OFAC General License 135, which authorizes specified Russian-origin diesel transactions through April 7, 2027; the Treasury says the authorization is lawful.

The competing positions have not been settled by a final legal ruling, so the status of any particular cargo remains subject to dispute rather than resolved.

Vessel movement and open questions

Reporting indicated one tanker was heading toward the US East Coast, but its final discharge port was not confirmed. That leaves open where, or whether, the cargo would be landed.

Shippers handling or considering Russian-origin diesel may find it useful to seek clarification on how the state request and the federal license are being applied before committing cargo to a US port.