DUBAI, Feb 1 : Saudi Arabia has started shuttling oil out of the Gulf to super tankes acting as loading points in safer waters off the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because tanker owner arc reluctant lo 'sail into the Northern Gulf, reports Reuter.

Oil industry sources said on Thursday three ships chartered by Saudi Arabia were off the UAE port of Eujalrah and

Included the 5 i 6.895 tonne Kapitan Michaelis the world's biggest tanker previously known as the Esso Atlantic.

Iran had earlier' started shuttling oil from its terminals close to Iraqi In the Northern Gulf lo mother tankers at lavan Island In the Central Gulf extensively used as an oil transhipment point during the 1980-88 war with Iraq.

Oil industry executives said the Saudi decision lo shuttle crude may have been prompted by slack sales of Its heavy grades of crude rather than threats to shipping In the Gulf

But several countries Including India and Japan, have burred their tankers from terminals in the Northern ^"Vhe sources said the first mother tanker has been loaded, the first customers are expected to the tanker* from India and Pakistan.