GARNET

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the ports of Primorsk and Vysotsk to Venezuela, Turkey, and Brazil.
The vessel, through affiliated companies, in particular Fornax Ship Management, Sun Ship Management, and Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, is affiliated with PJSC "Sovcomflot"—russia’s largest state-owned shipping company providing services and support for offshore hydrocarbon production and the transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas. The main charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot’s vessels are russia’s largest oil and gas companies and traders. Sovcomflot PJSC participates in the servicing of major oil and gas projects in russia: "Sakhalin-1", "Sakhalin-2", "Varanдей", "Prirazlomnoye", "Novy Port", "Yamal LNG" and others.
Since December 17, 2024, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 23, 2024, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since January 10, 2025, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On August 3, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the tanker’s master.
As of December 13, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Additionally, during the fuel crisis, the tanker is involved in a scheme to supply petroleum products to the russian federation from the Vadinar Refinery owned by Nayara Energy, a 49.13% stake in which is controlled by the russian sanctioned company PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
In early August 2026, the tanker IMO 9577094, under the command of master Mykola Borysovych Posmitny (russian citizen, under Ukrainian sanctions), delivered more than 57,000 metric tons of gasoline from the Vadinar Refinery of Nayara Energy to Vitino. The tanker received this strategic cargo in the Damietta area near Egypt via a ship-to-ship transfer from the shadow tanker IMO 9314167 (sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada, the EU, Switzerland, Ukraine and Australia). Following the uncovering of gray-market fuel import schemes from India, the tanker IMO 9314167 not only changed its name to CYCLONE and its flag state to the russian federation but also continues to deliver gasoline from Nayara Energy’s Vadinar Refinery to a transshipment area near Egypt.
According to available information, in early September 2026, a second ship-to-ship transfer of cargo from the Vadinar refinery will take place in the area near Egypt between the tankers CYCLONE (formerly AGNI, IMO 9314167) and GARNET (IMO 9577094).