SOUTH STAR

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude activoil/petroleum products, is systematically involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Tuapse and Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, including the use of deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea, in the area south of the Kerch Strait, and conducting STS transmissions with russian affiliations).
In March 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of russian oil products (over 30 thousand tons) from the russian port of Tuapse, where the production complex belonging to the sanctioned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, the Tuapse Oil Refinery with a sea terminal, is located. The sender of the cargo was the sanctioned russian Rosneft, and the recipient was Bellatrix Energy Limited (Hong Kong), which was sanctioned by the United States in December 2023 for significant participation in the trade in russian crude oil/petroleum products after the implementation of the price cap policy.
The tanker IMO 9263186 was involved in the chain of STS transfers of russian oil products exported from the port of Tuapse and their transportation to Libya (port of Benghazi) in September 2024 with the participation of tankers IMO 9247443, IMO 9263203. Since July 2024, the tanker IMO 9247443 without proper insurance of the International P&I Club has been operating in the area of Greece and Cyprus as a floating transshipment STS hub of russian wet cargo delivered to the area of Greece and Cyprus for transshipment mainly from the russian ports of Tuapse, Novorossiysk, as well as from the Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex, Primorsk, Ust-Luga. Such deliveries from russian ports for further transshipment via tanker IMO 9247443 in European waters are carried out by a number of tankers, including those affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called "shadow" fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude crude oil/petroleum products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions.
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, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country.