Shadow Fleet

The tanker was involved in the export of russian ESPO crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region to China during the oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products.
In December 2025, the tanker exported several shipments of russian ESPO crude oil from the port of Kozmino to the sanctioned company Shandong Yulong Petrochemical Co Ltd (China). The seller of the cargo was Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC (UAE), which was sanctioned by the UK on December 18, 2025, for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC is the largest exporter of russian crude oil in the shadow network of russian oil traders, the 2Rivers Group (Coral Energy), in which several Azerbaijani traders, Tahir Garayev, Etibar Eyyub, Talat Safarov, and Ahmed Kerimov.
In February and twice in March 2026, the vessel exported over 2.124 million barrels of russian ESPO crude oil to China from the port of Kozmino; the seller of the russian wet cargo was Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC.
In May 2026, the tanker exported over 708,000 barrels of russian ESPO crude oil to India from the port of Kozmino; the sellers of the russian wet cargo were PJSC Oil Company Rosneft and PJSC Surgutneftegaz.
Since August 2025, the vessel has been owned and operated by Seazen Shipping Co Ltd, a one-vessel company incorporated on June 12, 2025, in Hong Kong.
On April 29, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker was involved in the export of russian oil to third countries from russian ports.
The vessel is affiliated with Gatik Ship Management (India), which in 2022-2023 was among the top players in the shadow tanker fleet involved in the export of russian oil, as well as with the Gatik-related company Gaurik Ship Management LLP.
Under the sanctions, russia has begun to build up its own shadow fleet of outdated tankers, which has no 'ties' with the G7 and the EU and can transport oil in violation of price caps. russia disguises its shadow activities at sea under the 'convenient' flags of third countries, operates at sea without proper insurance from the international club of insurers, uses complex schemes to conceal the owners of the shadow fleet, uses various deceptive tactics to conceal the origin of its cargo, creates threats to environmental safety with large-scale economic costs for coastal countries due to the growing threat of oil spills, does not use pilots to navigate difficult areas, etc.
russia's 'shadow fleet' continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant environmental threats with significant economic costs to coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.
On November 25, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a tanker in connection with the transportation of russian oil/oil products from the russian federation to a third country as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet.
On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33) (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9353096.
On June 19, 2025, New Zealand 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.
The tanker has been flying the russian flag since July 2026.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of light-grade russian petroleum products from the ports of Tuapse, Taman, Novorossiysk, Arkhangelsk (Talagi), Ust-Luga, and Primorsk to Turkey, as well as via STS transfers with tankers from the russian shadow fleet.
On May 9, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of restrictions targeting the russian shadow fleet.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since July 20, 2025, the EU has imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil and petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, engaging in irregular and high-risk shipping practices, as specified in International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192 (33).
Since August 12, 2025, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia 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 vessel’s master.
The shadow tanker IMO 9290828 has been flying the russian flag since July 2026.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific Ocean region, mainly to China and India.
The tanker is affiliated with Prominent Shipmanagement Limited (Hong Kong), which is the operator of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian and Iranian oil and which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 in connection with the management of the tanker fleet, the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian oil, including the Fjord Seal, which called at a russian port where the price of oil was constantly exceeding the upper ceiling of $60 per barrel, and the Samsun, which was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil.
The tanker is also affiliated with K&O SHIPMANAGEMENT FZE, the fleet manager of which, master Yevgeny Chubenko, is also the fleet manager at russia's Sovcomflot PJSC.
On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.
After the sanctions were imposed, the vessel changed its name, flag country and management.
Since May 21 and June 3, 2025, the EU and Switzerland, respectively, have imposed sanctions on the vessel for transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from rRussia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192(33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In August 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the tanker's master.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.