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more than 100 million tons (approximately 17% of the world`s oil tanker fleet) consists of more than a thousand mostly outdated, poorly maintained vessels without proper insurance, with ‘confusing’ ownership and management structures located in ‘friendly’ jurisdictions, under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: 90 603 тис.тоннTotal: 892
BOLU
Vessel name
BOLU
IMO
9439539
Flag (Current)
Cameroon Cameroon
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
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.
The owner and commercial manager of the vessel is Bolu Group Ltd (Liberia), which operates only one tanker — IMO 9439539.
Tanker affiliated with the company The Zulu Ships Management and Operation — Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE), which belongs to a group of companies that played a significant role in the management and operation of the tanker fleet of the shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani), son of Ali Shamkhani, chief political advisor to Iran's supreme leader. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani uses his father's political influence to corrupt top-level officials in the Iranian regime in order to build and operate a huge fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profits. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping empire consists of a vast fleet of ships, ship management companies, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in profits from the global sale of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, mostly to buyers in the PRC. This shipping empire takes significant measures to conceal its operations and obscure its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
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.
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SAMOS
Vessel name
SAMOS
IMO
9408190
Flag (Current)
unknown
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
During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian oil and petroleum products, the tanker was involved in 2025 in the export of russian oil and petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, mainly to India.
The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned company The Zulu Ships Management and Operation – Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE), which as of September 16, 2025, serves as the technical manager of the tanker IMO 9408190.
The Zulu Ships Management and Operation – Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE) is among several companies that have played a significant role in managing and operating the tanker fleet forming part of the vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, 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.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani’s shipping empire comprises an extensive fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in revenue from global sales 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 ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
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.
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NEMRUT
Vessel name
NEMRUT
IMO
9439541
Flag (Current)
unknown
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 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.
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EVERDINE
Vessel name
EVERDINE
IMO
9382073
Flag (Current)
unknown
Vessel Type
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 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.
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TEMPEST DREAM
Vessel name
TEMPEST DREAM
IMO
9308132
Flag (Current)
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Cargo transportation from/to ТОТ of Ukraine
icon arrow-tree Calling ports of the TOT
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.
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