Shadow Fleet

Marine vessels involved in the transportation of sanctioned oil
Total number:
1468
Marine vessels
545
Masters
Updated: 23.09.2026
The shadow tanker fleet transports growing volumes of sanctioned oil around the world, generates billions of dollars in revenue for russia and Iran, threatens environmental safety in the oceans, serves as a spy platform, and is used for sabotage activities in the interests of the aggressor.
The sanctioned countries are looking for new markets for oil, building up their tanker fleet to circumvent restrictions, and shipping crude oil mainly to China and India.
The shadow tanker fleet with a total deadweight of more than 100 million tons (approximately 17% of the world`s oil tanker fleet) consists of more than a thousand mostly outdated, poorly maintained vessels without proper insurance, with ‘confusing’ ownership and management structures located in ‘friendly’ jurisdictions, under ‘convenient’ flags. Such vessels resort to deceptive tactics at sea to conceal the origin of their cargo, threaten ‘environmental chaos’ and billions of dollars in losses to coastal countries by passing through busy, narrow international transportation routes without pilotage. Since the beginning of russia`s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, shadow tankers have already been involved in more than 50 incidents from the Danish Straits to Malaysia.
 
 
 
 
Category
Sanctions
 
 
DWT: 69 622 тис.тоннTotal: 767
KARAKUZ
Vessel name
KARAKUZ
IMO
9621558
Flag (Current)
russian federation russian federation
Vessel Type
Oil Products Tanker
Category
Cargo transportation from/to ТОТ of Ukraine
icon arrow-tree Calling ports of the TOT
During the enforcement of the G7 and EU embargo and price cap on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been actively engaged in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products.
The vessel consistently employs deceptive shipping practices, including dark activity (AIS disabled) in the vicinity of the Kerch Strait, in the Sea of Azov, and near russian ports in the Black Sea. According to the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the tanker was previously involved in oil shipments to Syria between 2016 and 2018.
In its more recent activity, the tanker has been used to transport russian diesel fuel from the russian port of Novorossiysk to ports in the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine, including the Kerch Fishing Port.
The vessel is affiliated – via associated companies – with the russian entity JSC "AK Bars Leasing" (АО "АК Барс Лизинг", TIN 1656025635), a wholly owned subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC "AK Bars Bank" (ПАО "АК Барс Банк", TIN 1653001805).
On September 19, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On April, 2026, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since May 22, 2026, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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ASTORIA
Vessel name
ASTORIA
IMO
9166314
Flag (Current)
russian federation russian federation
Vessel Type
Chemical/Oil Products Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels in violation of sanctions and other restrictions
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil / petroleum products
The tanker has been implicated 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 owner and manager of the tanker since 2019 is the russian company Trinity Shipping LLC (ООО "Тринити Шиппинг", TIN 7813270750), whose main activity is sea freight transport. As of June 14, 2025, the company’s fleet includes seven additional oil tankers (IMO 9038969, IMO 9585912 — under sanctions since June 2025, IMO 9282986 — under sanctions since May 2025, IMO 9288930 — under sanctions since May 2025, IMO 9105140 — under sanctions since May 2025, IMO 9585924, IMO 9676230) sailing under the russian flag.
Among them is the tanker IMO 9676230, which, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), was implicated in oil supply deliveries to Syria in 2016–2018. This vessel is affiliated with the russian company Transpetrochart LLC (ООО "ТранспетроЧарт", TIN 7825484443, under U.S. sanctions).
Transpetrochart LLC is affiliated with the sanctioned russian company JSC Sovfracht (АО "Совфрахт"), one of the largest independent freight forwarding companies in russia, which serves as a key node in the military transport network of russian cargo vessels delivering North Korean weapons to russian military facilities for use in the war against Ukraine. Transpetrochart LLC has also been associated with the supply of jet fuel and oil products from the Feodosia oil depot to the Syrian port of Tartus for use by russian military forces in Syria, including the so-called "Syrian squadron" of the russian navy.
On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin from russia to third countries.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On April, 2026, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since May 22, 2026, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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KEY
Vessel name
KEY
IMO
9383869
Flag (Current)
russian federation russian federation
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels in violation of sanctions and other restrictions
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil / petroleum products
The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea since March 2025, as well as in August 2023.
The tanker, while exporting russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk in 2025, resorts to disabling AIS and conducting dark activities near the russian port of Ust-Luga and in the Gulf of Finland.
Since February 2025, the owner and commercial manager of the tanker is Rang Shipping Ltd, a company registered in the Seychelles, the fleet of which consists only of the tanker IMO 9383869. Since February 2025, the ISM-manager of the vessel is the Indian company Mariam Ship Management Service, the fleet of which, as of June 14, 2025, in addition to the tanker IMO 9383869, also includes the crude oil tanker IMO 9297553, which is also involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga, Vysotsk, Nakhodka during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products.
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.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
The tanker has been flying the russian flag since July 2026.
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OSTRIA
Vessel name
OSTRIA
IMO
9260067
Flag (Current)
unknown
Vessel Type
Chemical/Oil Products Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels in violation of sanctions and other restrictions
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil / petroleum products
The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, including through STS transfers in September 2024 near Greece with tankers of the russian shadow fleet (IMO 9251456, IMO 9299123, which have been under sanctions since May 2025).
The tanker makes calls at the Sheskharis terminal (Novorossiysk), in particular in December 2024. The Sheskharis terminal 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).
The tanker is linked to illegal shipments of Iranian oil.
The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned company Eco Max FZE (UAE), which manages tankers associated with the illegal supply of Iranian oil through its fleet (in particular, the sanctioned tanker IMO 9220938), as well as sanctioned tankers of the russian shadow fleet (IMO 9236755, IMO 9236755).
In October 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which the sanctioned company Eco Max FZE has an interest.
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 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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RIKER
Vessel name
RIKER
IMO
9253909
Flag (Current)
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels in violation of sanctions and other restrictions
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil / petroleum products
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 since June 2024 in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports, as well as through STS transfers, in particular in April 2025 with the tanker IMO 9304825 (under UK sanctions since February 2025) near russian ports in the Baltic Sea. The vessel engages in dark activities near the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov in June and July 2024, and then near Romania in July 2024.
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.
On May 20, 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.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In June 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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