CHONGCHON

The tanker is engaged in transportation of russian oil products to third countries and has repeatedly delivered shipments of russian oil products to the transshipment point in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece). The vessel is actively using deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS near Greece, Malta, in the Kerch Strait area).
The tanker is affiliated with Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, which is linked to India's Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called "shadow" fleet, which played a key role in the transportation of russian oil under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC along with a number of other companies, namely Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Orion Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping (India), Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to "juggle" vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions.
Since October 24, 2025, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
The tanker was also involved in supplying petroleum products to the russian federation during the fuel crisis. In August 2026, the tanker IMO 9294123, under the command of master Varudkar Vijay Vinayakrao (an Indian citizen, under sanctions of Ukraine), delivered more than 30,000 metric tons of gasoline from the port of Yeosu, South Korea, to the port of Vladivostok.