Shadow Fleet

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products.
The vessel resorts to deceptive practices, including manipulation of the vessel's location and dark activities near Malaysia.
The tanker is affiliated with the shipping empire of Iranian oil magnate and major arms supplier to russia Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani through the company OCEANLINK MARITIME DMCC.
On April 04, 2024, the USA imposed sanctions on the tanker ІМО 9281683, involved in cooperation with the sanctioned Iranian company Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company in the delivery of Iranian goods. Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company controls a network of front companies in Iran and other jurisdictions through which Iranian goods are sold in favor of the Ministry of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces of Iran (MODAFL) and the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS).
Since December 16, 2024, the EU has imposed sanctions on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular and risky shipping practices, as set out in the resolution of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization A.1192(33).
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China.
The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its main commercial subsidiary, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), continue to create front companies and rely on buyers and intermediaries to facilitate their authorized oil trade. AFGS and Sepehr Energy continue to rely on access to a fleet of aging shadow fleet oil tankers to supply oil to foreign buyers. As of early 2025, Sepehr Energy official Toomaj was using vessel IMO 9235244 to facilitate the supply of Iranian oil to China.
According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 14, 2025, the vessel's flag is unknown.

The tanker is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China.
The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its main commercial subsidiary, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), continue to create front companies and rely on buyers and intermediaries to facilitate their authorized oil trade. AFGS and Sepehr Energy continue to rely on access to a fleet of aging shadow fleet oil tankers to supply oil to foreign buyers. As of early 2025, Sepehr Energy official Toomaj was using vessel IMO 9275660 to facilitate the supply of Iranian oil to China.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9235244. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On May 13, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The vessel is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China. Since mid-2024, the tanker has transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China, including STS transportation with the sanctioned vessel IMO 9197832, which was sanctioned by USA on September 25, 2024 for transporting Iranian oil for the benefit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On May 08, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on tanker IMO Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9197832. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The tanker has been involved in the transport of Iranian-origin crude oil to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), having delivered over 8 million barrels since mid-2024.
In May 2025, the United States designated the tanker IMO 9320843 for its role in sanctions evasion involving Iranian oil.

The vessel has been implicated in the transportation of Iranian oil, in particular transporting more than one million barrels of Iranian oil to China, which it received from the tanker IMO 9418078, sanctioned by the United States on December 19, 2024. Iran’s shadow fleet relies on little-known ship management companies to operate its tanker fleet, which Tehran uses to disguise Iranian oil shipments to China through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers involving sanctioned vessels.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9171448. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On May 08, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker IMO 9171448.
According to IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) data as of July 14, 2025, the vessel’s registered name is IMPALAS, flag unknown.

The vessel is involved in the transportation and supply of Iranian crude oil, in particular to the DPRK. Since the beginning of 2025, tanker IMO 9263215 has made at least two oil shipments using sanctioned vessels of the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) to assist in delivering up to six million barrels of oil to China.
Iran's shadow fleet relies on little-known ship management companies to operate its fleet of tankers, which Tehran needs to disguise Iranian oil shipments to China using ship-to-ship (STS) transportation with sanctioned vessels.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9263215. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On May 08, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The VLCC-class tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian, Venezuelan, and russian crude oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9283801. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
Between December 2023 and May 2024, russia used the vessel IMO 9283801 to transport russian crude oil to third countries via STS transfers of wet cargo.
On April 16, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting Iranian oil to refineries in China, which provide vital multibillion-dollar revenues for the Iranian regime and its allies.

The vessel is affiliated with a sanctioned person, Brar Jugwinder Singh, through a sanctioned company, Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is a director and owner. Brar, through its companies, owns, operates or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize tankers that stick to coastal waters and carry a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar uses the smaller tankers for STS transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel that is smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels. Thus, Brar coordinated with the illegal shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and their environs.
On April 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.

The vessel is affiliated with the designated individual Brar Jugwinder Singh through the designated company Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is both director and owner. Through his companies, Brar owns, operates, or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of them Handysize-class vessels that operate in coastal waters and carry only a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar employs these smaller tankers for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to load Iranian oil from other vessels in the shadow fleet, or to load oil and fuel smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels.
Brar has coordinated with illicit shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions-evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels in place of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and in the area of Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and its vicinity.
On 10 April 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which the designated Glory International FZ-LLC holds an interest.

The vessel is involved in the provision of fuel oil bunkering services for ships in Iranian waters under contracts worth millions of dollars signed during 2024 with the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company, which provides material support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Forces.
The vessel is affiliated with a sanctioned person, Brar Jugwinder Singh, through a sanctioned company, Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is a director and owner. Brar, through its companies, owns, operates or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize tankers that stick to coastal waters and carry a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar uses the smaller tankers for STS transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel that is smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels. Thus, Brar coordinated with the illegal shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and their environs.
On April 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned Indian company Global Tankers Private Limited, which is controlled by designated individual Jugwinder Singh Brar. Mr. Brar owns several shipping companies operating a combined fleet of nearly 30 vessels, most of which are reported to operate as part of Iran’s shadow fleet. Global Tankers acts as the owner or technical/operational manager of several vessels within the Brar-controlled fleet. On 10 April 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel IMO 9005338 as property of the designated entity Global Tankers Private Limited.