AKAR WEST

During the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, the tanker has been engaged in the transportation of crude oil / petroleum products from russian ports in the Black Sea using deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area).
The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (Kamysh-Burun, Feodosia).
The tanker calls at the Sheskharis oil terminal (Novorossiysk), in particular in April and July 2025. The Sheskharis terminal is a transshipment complex, the end point of the main pipelines of JSC Chernomortransneft (TIN 2315072242, under US sanctions) — a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Transneft (TIN 7706061801).
The tanker is affiliated through the sanctioned companies SCF Management Services Cyprus (Cyprus), Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and provides offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas. The major charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. PJSC Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others.
The tanker is affiliated with sanctioned Turkish company Westanker Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi. The company is associated with the management of a group of ships on behalf of the shipping network of Iranian oil magnate and major arms supplier to russia Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, former Iranian defense minister and chief political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9258167.
On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
From July 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting crude oil/petroleum products that originate in russia or are exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33).
On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.