TOA PAYOH

The tanker during the period of the G7+ oil embargo, the price cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products, in particular, from russian ports in the Black Sea, conducting deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea). In 2025, the tanker called at the Sheskharis oil terminal (Novorossiysk port), which is a transshipment complex, the end point of the main pipelines of Chernomortransneft JSC (TIN 2315072242, under USA sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian Transneft PJSC (TIN 7706061801).
In March 2025, the tanker called at the port of Kamysh-Burun in the TOT of Ukraine.
In May 2024, STS transmissions took place near Romania with the tanker IMO 9220938, which was subject to USA sanctions in October 2024 for illegal supplies of Iranian oil, and the tanker IMO 9637973, affiliated with the russian company Volgotrans LLC, which is under Ukrainian sanctions.
Transshipment of crude oil / petroleum products of russian origin at sea using the STS method allows concealing the ownership and origin of the cargo, legalizing their supply to the EU, USA and other countries. In turn, the sale of crude oil / petroleum products on the world market allows accumulating significant financial resources in the state budget of the russian federation, which are used, among other things, to build up the military potential of the aggressor state and material support for russia's military operations on the territory of Ukraine.
The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), one of the leading operators of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products in 2022-2023.
The shipping company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) was established shortly before the G7 countries adopted a price-cap policy on russian oil after russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and played a significant role in the transportation of russian oil. Fractal Marine DMCC operated a fleet of 28 tankers as an intermediary between ship owners and charterers.
After the sanctions were imposed, Fractal Marine DMCC tried to challenge the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom but lost in court. After that, the company "re-signed" its fleet to other companies. Thus, the tankers previously managed by Fractal Marine DMCC were transferred to new management companies, in particular, Zulu Ships Management (UAE). The vessels managed by Zulu Ships Management continue to export russian crude oil / petroleum products.
The tanker IMO 9298492 is managed by Zulu Ships Management, which also operates other tankers affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC, some of which call at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine.
The vessel, IMO 9298492, is part of a vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani uses corruption through his father's political influence at the highest levels of the Iranian regime to build and operate a huge fleet of tankers and container ships. This network transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profits.
The Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani network consists of a huge fleet of ships, ship management firms and front companies that launder billions of dollars in profits from global sales of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, mostly to buyers in China. The network takes significant steps to disguise its operations and obfuscate its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
BPT Shipping Co LLC (UAE), Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), The Zulu Ships Management and Operation - Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE), with which the tanker IMO 9298492 is affiliated, are among the companies that have played a significant role in the management and operation of the Shamkhani tanker fleet.
On July 30, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker IMO 9298492.