Shadow Fleet

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 russian crude oil/petroleum products from the ports of Tuapse, Nakhodka, and the Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex. In 2025, the tanker systematically engages in dark activities in the area near the port of Feodosia (TOT Crimea of Ukraine), near russian ports in the Black Sea.
In February 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of russian oil (almost 55 thousand tons) from the russian port of Tuapse. The sender of the cargo was Amur Trading FZCO, and the recipient was Tejarinaft FZCO, founded on April 25, 2022. Amur Trading FZCO and Tejarinaft FZCO are among a number of oil traders involved in the purchase of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company in 2023.
The tanker is connected to an incident that threatened environmental safety. On February 10, 2025, the tanker suffered a fuel oil leak while bunkering at anchorage in Ambarli, near Istanbul (Turkey) due to a technical malfunction.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker was involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, bunkering of sanctioned vessels with russian affiliation, and shadow fleet vessels in the russian EEZ in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait.
In January and February 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of russian oil products from the russian port of Tuapse, where a 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 Tejarinaft FZCO.
In November 2024, in the waters of the Azov Sea to the north of the Kerch Strait, the tanker bunkered the sanctioned vessel IMO 9851127, affiliated with the sanctioned russian shipping company Paula Rise LLC, which was sanctioned by the United States in February 2023 for its activities in the maritime sector of the russian economy, participation in increasing russia's trade with Turkey and facilitating the supply of materials to construction sites in the Arctic; the transfer of cargo with the tanker IMO 9262924, which is considered part of the shadow fleet of the russian federation and was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in February 2025.
In October 2024, in the waters of the Azov Sea to the north of the Kerch Strait, the tanker bunkered tanker IMO 9224441, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, whose main charterers are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia; the tanker IMO 9222560, which is considered to be part of the shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products using deceptive, high-risk practices, calling at the ports of the TOT of Crimea in Ukraine.
The tanker is affiliated with the Indian companies Maritas Fleet PVT LTD, Bravo Ship Management Pvt Ltd, which were the former ISM managers of the tanker. Maritas Fleet PVT LTD and Bravo Ship Management Pvt Ltd are associated with the management of tankers affiliated with the sanctioned company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), which shortly before the price cap policy came into force acquired 18 oil tankers transporting russian sanctioned crude oil/petroleum products and was sanctioned by the USA for violating the price cap.

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 russian crude oil/petroleum products mainly from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including through STS transfers with russian affiliations. Transshipment of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin by STS method at sea allows concealing the ownership and origin of the cargo, legalizing their supply to the EU, the US and other countries. In turn, the sale of crude oil/petroleum products on the world market allows accumulating significant financial resources in the state budget of the russian federation, which are used, among other things, to build up the military potential of the aggressor state and to provide material support for russia's military operations on the territory of Ukraine.
The tanker engages in dark activities in the Kerch Strait (December 2024), near russian ports in the Black Sea (December 2024, January 2023), Turkey (September 2024), and Libya (June 2024).
The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, in particular, in December 2024, the tanker IMO 9253246 called at the port of Komysh-Burun, after leaving the port of Komysh-Burun, the tanker called at the Libyan port.
In January and February 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of consignments of russian diesel oil products (almost 63 thousand tons in total) from the russian port of Tuapse, where the production complex belonging to the sanctioned 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 recipients were Tejarinaft FZCO and Spg Trading LLC.
In December 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, tanker IMO 9253246 made an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9271327, which is considered part of the shadow fleet, classified by the International NGO Greenpeace as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. On January 10, 2025, the United States sanctioned tanker IMO 9271327, with which tanker IMO 9253246 had conducted an STS transmission shortly before the restrictions were imposed.
In December 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, tanker IMO 9253246 conducted an STS transmission with tanker IMO 9240885. The tanker IMO 9240885 is considered part of the shadow fleet, involved in the transportation of Iranian oil, export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports, including by conducting STS transfers in the Kerch Strait area with vessels with russian affiliation (including the tanker IMO 9224441, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas), makes calls to the ports of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine (Komysh-Burun, Kerch), in particular in December 2024, March 2025.

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 petroleum products from russian ports, particularly in the Black Sea, including through the use of deceptive practices (turning off AIS, engaging in covert activities).
In particular, in January, February, and March 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of petroleum products (almost 30 thousand tons, 42 thousand tons, and almost 33 thousand tons, respectively) from the russian port of Tuapse, with the sanctioned Rosneft Oil Company PJSC (ПАО "НК "Роснефть") as the sender of the cargo and Tejarinaft FZCO, Voliton DMCC, and Guron Trading Limited as the recipients, respectively. Tuapse hosts a production complex belonging to Rosneft – the Tuapse Refinery with a marine terminal. The tanker was also involved in several other export operations of diesel cargoes of Rosneft from the port of Tuapse on January 09 and February 01, 2023.
The vessel is also involved in the transport of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products.

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 russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports using deceptive practices (disabling AIS and conducting dark activities). In particular, in February 2023, the tanker was involved in the supply of a batch of marine diesel to the Kalamata region (Greece) from the russian port of Tuapse, the sender was Amur Trading FZCO, the recipient was Tejarinaft FZCO.
The vessel called at the port of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine in December 2024, February 2025 with AIS turned off.
The tanker is also involved in bunkering ships of the shadow fleet.
The vessel is affiliated with Maritas Fleet PVT LTD (India), which was the former ISM manager of the tanker. Maritas Fleet PVT LTD was founded in December 2022 in Mumbai. This company is associated with the ISM management of tankers affiliated with the sanctioned company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), which shortly before the price cap policy came into force acquired 18 oil tankers transporting russian sanctioned russian crude oil/petroleum products and was sanctioned by USA for violating the price cap.

The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo, the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian port of Ust-Luga, as well as using deceptive practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities in the Kola Bay area in November 2023, March-April 2024).
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment.
On June 17, 2025, the vessel with IMO number 9231767 was involved in a serious navigational incident in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker IMO 9231767 collided with a supertanker IMO 9855343 near the Strait of Hormuz. The impact caused severe fires to break out on both vessels. The UAE Coast Guard evacuated and rescued the entire 24-member crew of the tanker IMO 9231767. No crew members were injured, and a large-scale environmental pollution incident was averted.

Танкер в период действия нефтяного эмбарго G7 и ЕС, политики price cap на российскую нефть/нефтепродукты задействован в экспорте российской нефти/нефтепродуктов с применением обманчивых практик (отключение AIS, ведение темной деятельности в районе Керченского пролива, вблизи российских портов в Черном море). Судно осуществляет заходы в российский порт Светлый в Балтийском море, где размещен терминал российской подсанкционной компании ПАО "Лукойл", мощностью 6 млн т нефти и нефтепродуктов, в российский Таманский перегрузочный комплекс нефти и нефтепродуктов, порт Новороссийск в Черном море.
По состоянию на 24 апреля 2025 года владельцем, менеджером танкера с июля 2023 года является китайская компания Bernice Shipping Ltd, флот которой состоит только из судна IMO 9220926.

Since July 2024, the tanker has been used to export russian petroleum products (chemicals) from a russian port in the Pacific region, primarily to China.

The tanker has been implicated in the export chain of russian fossil fuels, including through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in Libyan waters with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled.
The previous owner and manager of the tanker from February 2021 to July 2025 was the russian company Rusprimexport LLC (ООО "Руспраймэкспорт", TIN 7708368806), whose majority shareholder (99%) is Arodo Shipholding Corp. (registration number 106330), registered in the Marshall Islands. The primary business activity of Rusprimexport LLC is the wholesale trade of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels and related products.

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian petroleum products to third countries in the interests of PJSC "Tatneft" and PJSC "Lukoil," using deceptive, high-risk shipping practices.
In February 2025, the tanker exported russian petroleum products from the port of Primorsk to Turkey in the interests of PJSC "Tatneft".
In June 2025, the vessel exported russian petroleum products from the port of Vysotsk to third countries in the interests of PJSC "Lukoil"
. In August 2025, the tanker exported russian petroleum products from the "Sheskharis" terminal at the port of Novorossiysk to the PRC in the interests of, among others, PJSC "Lukoil"
. In January 2026, the vessel exported russian petroleum products from the port of Taman to the Saudi Arabia in the interests of PJSC "Taneft".

The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is actively involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Black and Baltic seas (Tuapse, Novorossiysk (in particular, from the Sheskharis terminal - a transshipment complex, which is the end point of the main pipelines of JSC Chernomortransneft (TIN 2315072242, under USA sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Transneft (TIN 7706061801), Primorsk), including active and prolonged dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea, near Cyprus.
In 2024, a tanker under the command of captains Delara Nel (Maltese nationality) and Nikitopoulos Nikolaos (Greek nationality) transported russian petroleum products from the port of Tuapse to Turkey.
In 2024, the tanker was involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the "Sheshkharis" terminal at the port of Novorossiysk to Turkey in the interests of PJSC "Gazprom" and PJSC "Lukoil," and from the port of Tuapse to Turkey in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
In 2025, the vessel was involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the port of Primorsk to Libya.
In September 2025, the tanker transported nearly 35,000 tons of russian-origin petroleum products from the Sheskharis terminal in the port of Novorossiysk to Turkey.
In January 2026, the tanker exported nearly 280,000 barrels of petroleum products from the port of Novorossiysk to Turkey; the seller of the cargo was the sanctioned company Alghaf Marine DMCC. According to available information, Alghaf Marine DMCC was established on December 31, 2024, in Dubai in the interests of PJSC Lukoil to trade in oil and petroleum products, replacing Litasco Middle East DMCC.

The tanker, over 50 years old, has been implicated in servicing (bunkering) vessels with russian affiliation engaged in grain theft schemes involving the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine, as well as tankers of the russian shadow fleet, particularly in the Kerch Strait area, including through deceptive shipping practices such as disabling the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and conducting dark activity in the Kerch Strait.
In September 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, it bunkered the vessel IMO 9720263, which sails under the russian flag, is subject to U.S. sanctions, and has been involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) to the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, Syria, and Yemen, with AIS switched off in line with a common pattern for concealing port calls to Ukrainian ports in TOT Ukraine.
In August 2024, the tanker IMO 9224441 — affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot (ПАО "Совкомфлот"), the largest state-owned shipping company in russia engaged in servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, whose main charterers are russia’s largest oil and gas companies and traders — was bunkered in the Kerch Strait (for 5 hours). This tanker, in turn, has been involved in exporting russian crude oil to third countries from russian ports, including with AIS disabled, and in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of russian petroleum products in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea for further transport to third countries.
In August 2024, it also bunkered the tanker IMO 9242223, considered part of the russian shadow fleet, which had called at a russian port where oil prices were consistently trading above the G7 price cap; this vessel was designated by the U.S. in January 2025.
In June 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, it bunkered (for 4 hours) the tanker IMO 9198783, which was designated by the U.S. in January 2025 for its links to a sanctioned russian company operating in russia’s energy sector.
The vessel is owned by Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания"), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions and has acted as a supplier within the russian state procurement system to the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles. JSC Rosnefteflot is part of the corporate group of the sanctioned PJSC NK Rosneft (ПАО "НК "Роснефть""), a russian state-owned oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest oil producers. The main activities of JSC Rosnefteflot include, in particular, chartering tanker fleet tonnage in the interests of PJSC NK Rosneft and organizing river transportation for PJSC NK Rosneft in the Volga–Don, Azov–Don, Volga, and Volga–Baltic basins.
The fleet of the vessel’s owning company includes other sanctioned vessels.