Shadow Fleet

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in 2025 in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports in the Black Sea and the Pacific region, primarily to China and India.
The vessel is affiliated with Crest Maritime Pte Ltd (Singapore), which serves as the technical manager of the tanker. As of September 16, 2025, the company is also the technical manager of two sanctioned tankers of the russian shadow fleet – IMO 9308950 and IMO 9389100.
On October 15, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil and petroleum products, particularly from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, during the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian oil and petroleum products.
The vessel is part of a vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to iran’s supreme leader. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani leverages his father’s political influence to corrupt senior iranian regime officials in order to build and operate a massive fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network comprises a vast fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front entities that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from global sales of iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, mostly to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its ties to the Shamkhani family, iran, and russia.
The Zulu Ships Management and Operation – Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE), with which the tanker IMO 9439541 is affiliated, is among several companies that have played a significant role in managing and operating the Shamkhani network’s tanker fleet.
On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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 24, 2026, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker was involved in the export of russian oil and petroleum products to third countries, including from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, during the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian oil and petroleum products.
The vessel is affiliated with Algae Ship Charter FZCO (UAE), one of the many shipping companies that form part of the vast maritime empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s supreme leader.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani leverages his father’s political influence to corrupt senior Iranian regime officials in order to build and operate an extensive fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profits. His shipping network consists of a large fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from the global sale of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its links to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
Algae Ship Charter FZCO, together with other companies connected to Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani – including The Zulu Ships Management and Operation – Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE) and Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE) – performs operational functions for the fleet within the Shamkhani shipping network.
On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker IMO 9382073.
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 24, 2026, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the enforcement of the G7 and EU embargo and price cap on russian oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been engaged in the export of russian-origin oil and petroleum products.
The vessel calls at the ports in the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine, including the port of Kamysh-Burun in January 2025.
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment.
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.
On October 15, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the enforcement of the G7 and EU embargo and price cap on russian oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been engaged in the export of russian-origin oil and petroleum products.
The tanker has made port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine, in particular in June, September 2025, and October 2024.
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 March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the enforcement of the G7 and EU embargo and price cap on russian oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been engaged in the export of russian-origin oil and petroleum products.
In particular, in August-September 2025, the tanker transported more than 140,000 tons of russian crude oil from the Sheskharis terminal in the port of Novorossiysk to the port of Sikka (India). The shipper was the sanctioned company PJSC Surgutneftegaz (TIN 8602060555), one of russia's largest oil and gas producers.
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 December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 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.

During the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas using deceptive practices (AIS deactivation, active engagement in dark activities in the Kerch Strait area, ports of Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories, and in the area of russian ports in the Baltic Sea).
The vessel calls at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in May 2025 at the ports of Kerch and Kamysh-Burun.
The tanker is affiliated with the Turkish company Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS, which managed the vessel from November 2022 to March 2024. Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS is one of the top three Turkish operators that transported hundreds of millions of barrels of russian crude oil and petroleum products in 2023.
In March 2024, management of the tanker was transferred to the Turkish company Sand Gemi Isletmeciligi AS. Sand Gemi Isletmeciligi AS shares the same legal address as two other Turkish ship managers, Cape Gemi Isletmeciligi AS and Tokyo Gemi Isletmeciligi AS. Eight tankers belonging to these companies were managed by Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS in 2023 and early 2024, and one by the sanctioned Beks Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Tic. Sand Gemi Isletmeciligi AS is associated with the management of oil tankers (IMO 9337327, IMO 9273442, IMO 9263203, IMO 9299886), which are considered as part of the russian shadow fleet and to which western sanctions were applied for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin from russia to third countries.
In July 2025, management of the tanker was transferred to another Turkish company, East Gemi Isletmeciligi AS, which as of October 21, 2025, operates a fleet of seven sanctioned oil tankers (IMO 9263203, IMO 9265756, IMO 9299886, IMO 9310707, IMO 9337327, IMO 9387255, ІМО 9308132).
On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the transportation of ussian-origin crude oil/petroleum products from russia rto third countries.
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 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, Primorsk, Vysotsk in the Baltic Sea since January 2024. The vessel is engaged in dark activities near russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas.
The tanker is affiliated with the Turkish company Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS, which was the commercial and ISM manager of the vessel from November 2023 to March 2024. Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS is one of the top three ranking Turkish operators, which in 2023 provided transportation of hundreds of millions of barrels of russian crude oil and petroleum products. The fleet of the Turkish top three - Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS and the sanctioned Beks Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Tic and Active Denizcilik ve Gemi - transported a total of 49 million barrels of russian crude oil/petroleum products in 2023. Since March 2024, the tanker has been managed by the Turkish company Tokyo Gemi Isletmeciligi AS. Tokyo Gemi Isletmeciligi AS has the same legal address as two other Turkish ship managers, Sand Gemi Isletmeciligi AS and Cape Gemi Isletmeciligi AS. Eight tankers of these companies were operated by Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS in 2023 and early 2024, and one tanker was operated by the sanctioned Beks Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Tic.
On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the carrying crude oil/petroleum products that originated in russia from russia to a third countries.
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 December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Black Sea during the period of the G7, EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products. The vessel is engaged in dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea and in the Kola Bay.
On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the carrying crude oil/petroleum products that originated in russia from russia to a third countries.
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 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, has been involved mainly in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian port of Primorsk, as well as from the floating oil storage facility IMO 9196620 VLCC-class, which is part of the roadside transshipment complex in the Kola Bay and is considered a key element of the Arctic russian oil export chain, created for transshipment of oil from Arctic fields by Gazprom Neft LLC.
Since May 2024, the tanker has been owned by Evergreen Embrace Corp, a company registered in the Seychelles at the address (3rd Floor, Suite 10, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles), which is widely used for registration of companies that own and manage tankers of the russian shadow fleet. The ISM-manager of the tanker is Vista Vvave Shipmanagement LLC, a company from Azerbaijan, the fleet of which, as of June 16, 2025, includes, in addition to the tanker IMO 9299678, the sanctioned tanker IMO 9380673 of the russian shadow fleet.
The tanker is classified by the international public organization Greenpeace as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment.
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 December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 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 is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products.
The tanker is actively engaged in dark activities in the vicinity of the russian port of Astrakhan, Turkmenistan, the Kerch Strait, and near russian ports in the Azov Sea.
The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT Crimea of Ukraine, in March 2025 at the port of Komysh-Burun.
The tanker is affiliated with the russian company Enea LLC (TIN 6164136080). Eneya LLC is affiliated with the sanctioned Jamaldin Pashayev and is involved in covert supplies to Syria in the interests of the russian Ministry of defense (in particular, aviation fuel). Since October 2024, the CEO of Eneya LLC has been Magomed Abdulatipov (TIN 053689064586), who for a long period of time before October 2024 was the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Administration of the Caspian Sea Ports". Jamaldin Pashayev's enterprises have been involved in russian military exports since 2021 and have concluded more than 200 agreements on the sea transportation of military cargo around the world. Jamaldin Pashayev and his companies have been an integral part of the ongoing transfer of lethal aid to the sanctioned russian company SEZ Alabuga, which is one of the main UAV assembly plants for the russian Ministry of defense with the support of Iran. Jamaldin Pashayev is affiliated with the sanctioned shipping company MG-Flot LLC, the fleet of which is involved in the transportation of weapons from Syria, Iran, North Korea to russia, as well as Iranian oil.
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 December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling the Automatic Identification System (AIS), conducting dark activity near russian ports in the Black Sea, and carrying out ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with russian-affiliated vessels near European countries).
In April 2025, near Romania, the tanker (IMO 8808525) conducted an STS transfer with the tanker (IMO 9236975), which had arrived from the russian port of Novorossiysk to perform the transfer. In March 2025, near Cyprus, the tanker (IMO 8808525) conducted an STS transfer with the tanker (IMO 9424651) – designated by the EU and Switzerland since May 2025 – which had arrived in the area near Cyprus from the russian port of Tuapse, where it had conducted a series of STS transfers.
On May 20, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker.
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 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.