MIKATI

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker was involved in the export of russian oil from the russian ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, mainly to China, India, and Egypt, and resorted to the practice of turning off the AIS signal and conducting so-called 'dark activities' at sea.
The vessel is certified by the Korean Register (IACS).
The oil tanker is affiliated with OPEC Petrol Transportation Co Ltd (Vietnam) as the former owner and commercial manager of the vessel. This company is associated with the trade of Iranian and Venezuelan oil in 2021 with its own fleet.
The tanker calls at russian ports that are leading in the export of russian oil by the shadow fleet - the ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk in the Baltic Sea, delivering oil to the countries that import the most russian crude oil through the shadow fleet - China, India.
The international non-governmental organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment.
The 'shadow' fleet, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through heavily trafficked routes through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with automatic identification systems disabled, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs to be borne by the affected coastal countries and/or the international community. The recent incidents off Malaysia only underscore the need for swift action to curb the potentially devastating impact of the growing 'shadow fleet'. 'Shadow' tankers have already been involved in 50 incidents from the Danish Straits all the way to Malaysia since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to CREA, from January to August 2024, the number of shadow tankers crossing the Danish Straits in Europe increased by 277% compared to the same period in 2022, with 64% of the 46 million tons of russian marine oil transported through the Danish Straits being transported by shadow tankers. During the same period, the number of shadow tankers in the Straits of Dover and Gibraltar increased by 355% compared to 2022, transporting 67% of the 37 million tons of oil through the straits. The Suez Canal experienced a staggering 649% increase in shadow tanker traffic, with 69% of the 52 million tons of russian crude oil passing through it being transported by these vessels.
The shadow fleet of the russian federation continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.
On October 25, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a tanker in connection with the transportation of russian oil/oil products from the russian federation to a third country as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet.
On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.