Marine and Aircraft
Vessels
Airports and Ports
involved in the transportation of weapons, stolen Ukrainian products and in the circumvention of sanctions
Total number:
994
Marine vessels
155
Captains
Updated: 23.06.2025
Maritime logistics is critically important for building up the aggressor`s military capabilities, moving troops, obtaining weapons and sanctioned goods, and trading stolen goods. Aggressors transport weapons through international straits on civilian merchant vessels. Exporting fossil fuels to circumvent sanctions is the main source of income for russia and Iran. The shadow tanker fleet and ships without ice class in the Arctic threaten an environmental disaster. Through the sale of agricultural products from the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, russia finances the war and maintains the loyalty of its allies, Iran and the DPRK.
Together we can stop this to restore peace and security
Actions to be taken:
  • to sanction the vessels on the list below, as well as all related companies and individuals (owners, operators, managers, executives, senior crew members)
  • to prohibit the entry of such vessels into ports, territorial waters, EEZs and international straits, and the sale of spare parts for them
 
  • to require bank statements to confirm compliance with the price-cap when receiving insurance and other services
  • to involve financial and specialized institutions in the gathering of evidence, to publish the results of investigations, and to apply real penalties, including significant fines
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Air vessels Ports Airports
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more than 100 million tons (approximately 17% of the world`s oil tanker fleet) consists of more than a thousand mostly outdated, poorly maintained vessels without proper insurance, with ‘confusing’ ownership and management structures located in ‘friendly’ jurisdictions, under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: 64 048 тис.тоннTotal: 595
CLYDE NOBLE
Vessel name
CLYDE NOBLE
IMO
9282792
Flag (Current)
Palau Palau
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from the russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea to third countries, in particular, India and China. From November 2021 to January 2025, the sanctioned Cyprus company Lagosmarine Ltd ( ΗΕ 402876) was the commercial and ISM manager of the tanker. The company's director is Dakis Mauroudis, who, in turn, is a director of another Cypriot company, Sparta Shipmanagement Limited (ΗΕ 393698). Lagosmarine Ltd and Sparta Shipmanagement Limited are registered at the same address in Cyprus. At the same time, Sparta Shipmanagement Limited is affiliated with Latvian citizen Alexey Haliavins, who in 2024 'helped' one of the largest russian oil and gas companies, Surgutneftegaz, to earn $1.4 billion on oil sales above the price ceiling for russian oil set by sanctions. In 2022, Haliavins claimed to be the general manager of Sparta Shipmanagement Limited, as well as the chairman of the board of directors and ultimate beneficial owner of the OGC group. Three Dubai-based companies are associated with Oleksiy Haliavins: Black Pearl Energy Trading LLC, OGC Shipping LLC, and Conmar Maritime. In 2023, Black Pearl Energy Trading LLC and OGC Shipping LLC purchased about 38 million barrels of oil from the russian company Surgutneftegaz at an average price of $83.7 per barrel, which exceeds the price cap for russian oil. In January-May 2024, only Black Pearl Energy Trading bought oil from the russian company, purchasing more than 20.6 million barrels at $83.7. As a result, the russian Surgutneftegaz earned about $1.4 billion bypassing the price ceiling. At the same time, tankers registered to Lagosmarine Ltd, which is affiliated with Sparta Shipmanagement Limited through a joint director, are constantly making voyages between the russian ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga, Kozmino and India and China. According to customs documents, the same routes were used to move oil sold to Dubai companies linked to Halsavins. The Israeli Ministry of Defense accuses one of Lagosmarine's tankers, ІМО 9235725, in transporting Iranian oil for the Quds Force and Hezbollah. According to the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), the vessel ІМО 9282792 was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and since January 2022 has switched to transporting russian oil. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian export oil are now helping russia transport russian oil/oil products. In May 2022, UANI first predicted that russia would turn to a 'ghost armada' to ensure oil flows to its Chinese partner. In his LinkedIn profile, Haliavins lists himself as a beneficiary and CEO of Conrad Management Company, which is listed as a sponsor company in the UAE residence permits of employees of the russian state-owned company JSC Foreign Economic Association Promsyryoimport (TIN 9704027750, sanctioned by USA and Ukraine). This russian company is involved in schemes to supply Iranian oil to Syria and the TOT of Crimea. On May 09, 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. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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KOEN
Vessel name
KOEN
IMO
9199127
Flag (Current)
Panama Panama
Vessel Type
Oil Products Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
During the period of the G7, EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil, conducting dark activities at sea, and practicing deceptive practices related to the identification/location of the vessel. The vessel is connected with the facts of supplying crude oil (a refined product) to China in October 2023 (for the needs of a large Shengxing Chemical refinery) under the guise of 'other fuel oil' (a combustion product), which may indicate concealment of the nature/origin of the cargo, avoidance of price caps in certain geographical locations, disguising the real cargo under a different product classification code to conceal its potential use, etc. Since early 2023, Borey G's voyage history has identified a number of sailing routes between Southeast Asia and mainland China's coastal ports, with several STS activities near Malaysia using crude oil tankers MS Enola and FSO SA Europe. According to the USA-based human rights group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic using satellite data, the vessel was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and has switched to transporting russian oil since December 2022. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 90 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian export oil are now helping russia transport russian oil/oil products. In May 2022, UANI first predicted that russia would turn to a 'ghost armada' to ensure oil flows to its Chinese partner. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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BLUE
Vessel name
BLUE
IMO
9236353
Flag (Current)
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Violation of the oil embargo
The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil, violating the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil in January 2024. In violation of the oil embargo, the vessel transported russian crude oil from the port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea to the Laconikos Gulf, Greece in January 2024. According to Kpler, on January 28, 2024, the tanker ІМО 9236353 in the Laconikos Gulf of Greece carried out an STS transfer of Urals crude oil exported from the port of Novorossiysk, handing it over to the vessel IMO 9237072. On January 09, 2024, the vessel ІМО 9237072 was recorded by the MarineTraffic ship spotter off the coast of Crete in ballast with a draft of 11.3 m. On January 10, 2024, the tanker sailed to the Laconikos Gulf, where it made an STS transfer on the same day, receiving Urals oil from the vessel IMO 9434890 in the Laconikos Gulf in Greece. According to Kpler, IMO 9434890 was loaded with 729 thousand barrels of Urals oil from the port of Ust-Luga. The second STS transfer to the vessel ІМО 9237072 took place on January 28, 2024 in the Laconikos Gulf from the vessel IMO 9236353 loaded with oil in the port of Novorossiysk. According to Kpler, the vessel IMO 9237072, loaded with russian oil, concealed information about the change in the ship's draft and headed to Venezuela, where it was detected an STS transfer of oil to the vessel IMO 9110183 between February 28 and March 1, 2014, which delivered 600 thousand barrels of russian oil to the Cardon refinery in Venezuela on March 2, 2014. The international public organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. Shadow fleet of russia continues to generate 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 May 09, 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. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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FRUNZE
Vessel name
FRUNZE
IMO
9263643
Flag (Current)
Cook Islands Cook Islands
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic, black seas, and the Pacific region to third countries, and in dark activities at sea near Indonesia, China, russia, and South Korea with the AIS signal turned off. The tanker was also used to transport sanctioned Iranian oil. The tanker is affiliated with Gemini Marine Limited (under US sanctions), whose fleet transports oil products on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), controlled by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Gemini Marine Limited's fleet also transported oil products for the network of sanctioned financial official Houthi Saeed al-Jamal, whose network provided tens of millions of dollars in illicit oil sales to support the financing of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. russia has created its own shadow fleet of tankers, mostly made up of old tankers, many of which have experience operating under sanctions imposed on regimes such as Iran. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian oil are now helping russia transport russian oil/oil products. In May 2022, UANI predicted that russia would use a 'ghost armada' to ensure that excess profits from oil exports flow to its Chinese partner, in particular. The international public organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. The shadow fleet of the russian federation 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 threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers. On October 02, 2024, the vessel was subject to US sanctions as a property in which Gemini Marine Limited has an interest. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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TIBURON
Vessel name
TIBURON
IMO
9283291
Flag (Current)
Barbados Barbados
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic and Black seas to third countries. The tanker is affiliated with Adel Ship Management SRL (Moldova), which manages tankers that help russia transport crude oil under Western sanctions. Adel Ship Management SRL is considered one of the largest carriers of russian crude oil, in particular, in the first half of 2024, the Moldova-based company shipped 2.6 million barrels of oil, which is approximately 2% of total russian exports. RLRISE Moldova, a community of investigative journalists, programmers, and activists from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, attributes the tanker to the shadow fleet involved in russian oil exports. On May 09, 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. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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ARLAN
Vessel name
ARLAN
IMO
9227443
Flag (Current)
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Violation of the oil embargo
The tanker is involved in violation of the G7 and EU oil embargo on the export of russian crude oil to the EU, and the export of russian oil to third countries. The vessel took russian crude oil from the russian port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea in September 2024 and delivered it to a transshipment point south of Lacon Bay, west of the island of Kithira. According to United Against Nuclear Iran, the vessel is suspected of transporting Iranian oil. According to an internal analysis prepared by the Scottish Coastguard satellite services, the tanker was involved in a spill of russian oil in the sea about 100 km off the Scottish coastline. At the time, the vessel was carrying 1 million barrels of sanctioned oil from russia on its way to a refinery in India. The shadow fleet, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through heavily trafficked routes through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with the automatic identification system turned off, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs to be borne by the affected coastal countries and/or the international community. The shadow fleet continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the russian federation bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9227443. On May 09, 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. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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RAVEN
Vessel name
RAVEN
IMO
9205067
Flag (Current)
Barbados Barbados
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic Sea. The vessel is certified by the Registro Italiano Navale (IACS). Since December 2023, the tanker has been affiliated with the Moldovan company KSN Shipmanagement, which was registered less than a month after russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. RLRISE Moldova, a community of investigative journalists, programmers and activists from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, and Greenpeace International refer to the tanker as a shadow fleet involved in the export of russian oil. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9205067. On May 09, 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. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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THANE
Vessel name
THANE
IMO
9237228
Flag (Current)
San Marino San Marino
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
Since 2024, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region. In December 2022, the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) included the tanker in a public list of vessels suspected of involvement in the illegal transportation of Iranian oil. russia has created its own shadow fleet of tankers, mostly made up of old tankers, many of which have experience in operating under sanctions imposed on regimes such as Iran. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian oil are now helping russia transport russian crude oil/petroleum products. In May 2022, UANI predicted that russia would use a "ghost armada" to ensure the flow of excess profits from oil exports, in particular to its Chinese partner. Since December 2024, the owner and commercial manager of the tanker is Nissho Lines Inc, registered in the Marshall Islands (Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake, Majuro MH 96960, Marshall Islands), which is widely used for registration of companies that own/manage shadow fleet tankers. The shadow tanker 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 May 08, 2025, USA imposes sanctions on the tanker for carrying out numerous shipments of Iranian oil products via STS to the Persian Gulf, as well as for being owned by Nissho Lines Incorporated, a sanctioned company involved in the oil sector of the Iranian economy. On May 09, 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 russian government, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular from russia to a third country. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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AGNI
Vessel name
AGNI
IMO
9337389
Flag (Current)
Comoro Islands Comoro Islands
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
During the period of the G7 oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from ports in the Baltic, Black Sea, and Pacific regions to third countries. In September 2022 and January 2023, the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) included the tanker in a public list of vessels suspected of involvement in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil. The tanker is operated by Oceanlink Maritime DMCC, which was sanctioned by USA on April 04, 2024 for facilitating the transportation of Iranian goods on behalf of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces (AFGS) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). On April 04, 2024, USA sanctioned the tanker ІМО 9337389 as a property in which Oceanlink Maritime DMCC has an interest for the transportation of Iranian goods. Against the backdrop of sanctions, russia is using a scheme of 'juggling' ships between related companies to conceal oil exports outside the price cap and other restrictions, as well as to conceal the real owners of ships, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels by a 'shadow' fleet of obsolete oil tankers, creates new companies for these purposes (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Mauritius, Seychelles, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. In order to implement this scheme, technical/commercial management and ship owners are constantly changing, and vessels are renamed with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign, including for sanctioned vessels. Shadow fleet vessels operate under 'convenient flags', which allows them to conceal their true origin and avoid control by international organizations and insurance companies. The shadow fleet of russia, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through heavily trafficked routes through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with automatic identification systems disabled, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs to be borne by the affected coastal countries and/or the international community. The shadow fleet' continues to generate billions of dollars in revenue 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 May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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THEMIS
Vessel name
THEMIS
IMO
9264570
Flag (Current)
Panama Panama
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
The tanker, during the period of the G7+ 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 russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region, and uses high-risk, deceptive practices (disabling AIS, STS transmissions). In particular, in November 2024, near Malaysia, a tanker, having left the port of Kozmino on September 25, 2024, made an STS transmission with the tanker IMO 9313149 of the VLCC type, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025. Transshipment of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin by STS method allows to conceal the ownership and origin of the cargo, legalize their supply to EU countries, USA 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 international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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ARABESCA
Vessel name
ARABESCA
IMO
9288734
Flag (Current)
Panama Panama
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
icon arrow-tree Transporting russian crude oil/oil products in violation of other restrictions
Since 2024, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker has been involved in the export of oil to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic Sea. The previous owner of the vessel until April 2024 was the Greek company Thenamaris Ships Management. The tanker was sold to an unknown buyer, and, according to the international public organization Greenpeace, is part of the shadow fleet of the russian federation. Oil exports from russia are the most important source of income for the kremlin regime to finance the war against Ukraine. The tax on oil production collected by the russian federation in 2023 amounted to 8.9 trillion rubles, or 31% of total federal revenues. According to CREA data for September 2024, russia's revenues from crude oil exported by sea amounted to 192 million euros per day, 86% of the total volume of russian marine crude oil was transported by shadow tankers, while tankers owned or insured in countries that impose price restrictions accounted for 14% of the total value of russian oil exported in September. The shadow tanker fleet continues to generate multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin by circumventing sanctions by disguising its activities under third-country flags, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant environmental safety hazards with significant economic costs to coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequately insured shadow fleet tankers. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9288734. On May 09, 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. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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