LONDON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A tanker carrying approximately 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel has stalled in the North Atlantic before reaching the U.S. East Coast, with its next destination uncertain, international market intelligence provider Kpler said Tuesday.

The tanker AGIOI FANENDES loaded ultra-low sulfur diesel at Russia's Primorsk port on Oct. 23 and initially listed New York as its destination, with an expected arrival date of Nov. 7, Kpler said. However, its Automatic Identification System (AIS) destination was subsequently changed to "FOR ORDERS."

Since Nov. 9, the vessel has remained almost stationary, while its draft has stayed unchanged at 11 meters, suggesting that no cargo has been discharged. Its next movement remains uncertain.

Eastmed, the Greece-based company managing the Malta-flagged tanker, told media on Tuesday that the vessel was still awaiting orders and that its destination had not changed.

British maritime intelligence company Windward said Tuesday that one of two tankers it had assessed with high confidence as carrying Russian diesel to the United States had turned around.

Even if the second tanker continued toward the United States, its cargo was likely not diesel, the company said.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on Oct. 9 that it would ease sanctions on Russian diesel trade over the coming months to alleviate tight domestic diesel supplies and curb fuel prices.

Windward said that despite the issuance of U.S. General License 135, no Russian diesel may ultimately reach the United States.

However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tuesday that Washington was confident the Russian diesel cargo would eventually be sold on the global market, despite the tanker's recent halt.

The planned imports have nevertheless raised legal and regulatory concerns in the United States, with warnings that accepting Russian diesel shipments could violate federal law and expose businesses to potential penalties.