Marine vessels

The tanker is involved in STS transfers at anchorages off Malaysia, Qingdao from tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian or Venezuelan oil. The tanker resorts to disabling the automatic identification system, a behavioral pattern that indicates that the tanker is trying to avoid detection of the STS transfer. The VLCC was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent about $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for the high-risk transportation of crude oil of russian origin in the Atlantic Ocean. These 13 tankers include five Aframax vessels, seven very large crude oil carriers and one Suezmax vessel. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, these vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interconnected single-ship offshore companies from Hong Kong and China. Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were engaged in transshipment of cargoes in the established high-risk transshipment hub for russian crude oil for consolidation of cargoes in the area 860 nautical miles west of Portugal, in international waters. The registered owners, commercial managers, and ISM manager are characterized by an almost identical registration address in Dalian (PRC), and the same two addresses in Hong Kong. This group of tankers is considered to be the center of a fully operational mid-Atlantic transshipment hub for russian crude oil to China. Logistics STS hubs allow to conceal the ownership and origin of cargo. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic hub, transshipment centers include areas near Kalamata, Greece, Malta, Ceuta, and the Caucasus, where STS operations for russian crude oil have been established. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

According to United Against Nuclear Iran, the vessel was involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil and switched to the transportation of sanctioned russian oil. The Lauren II transports crude oil loaded by other tankers from ship to ship from the russian port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea. In particular, the Lauren II was tracked while loading a cargo of crude oil by means of a ship-to-ship transfer from the tanker Zhen I (IMO 9255880). The VLCC tanker was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent about $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for the high-risk transportation of russian-origin crude oil in the Atlantic Ocean. These 13 tankers include five Aframax vessels, seven very large crude oil carriers and one Suezmax vessel. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, these vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interconnected single-ship offshore companies from Hong Kong and China. Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were engaged in transshipment of cargoes in the established high-risk transshipment hub for russian crude oil for consolidation of cargoes in the area 860 nautical miles west of Portugal, in international waters. The registered owners, commercial managers, and ISM manager are characterized by an almost identical registration address in Dalian (PRC), and the same two addresses in Hong Kong. This group of tankers is considered to be the center of a fully operational mid-Atlantic transshipment hub for russian crude oil to China. Logistics STS hubs allow to conceal the ownership and origin of cargo. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic hub, transshipment centers include areas near Kalamata, Greece, Malta, Ceuta, and the Caucasus, where STS operations for russian crude oil have been established. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports to China and other third countries. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Fornax Ship Management, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: 'Sakhalin-1', 'Sakhalin-2', 'Varandey', 'Prirazlomnoye', 'Novy Port', 'Yamal LNG' and others. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 'transferred' by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region, mainly to China. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: 'Sakhalin-1', 'Sakhalin-2', 'Varandey', 'Prirazlomnoye', 'Novy Port', 'Yamal LNG' and others. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 'transferred' by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region to China. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: 'Sakhalin-1', 'Sakhalin-2', 'Varandey', 'Prirazlomnoye', 'Novy Port', 'Yamal LNG' and others. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 'transferred' by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, mainly to Turkey, Brazil, and India, using deceptive practices (disabling AIS). The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Fornax Ship Management, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: 'Sakhalin-1', 'Sakhalin-2', 'Varandey', 'Prirazlomnoye', 'Novy Port', 'Yamal LNG' and others. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 'transferred' by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy, the tanker is engaged in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products and called at a russian port where the price of oil was constantly exceeding the upper limit of the price cap. The tanker is affiliated with Sino Ship Management Company Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker, which is considered part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Sino Ship Management Company Limited has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas to third countries, and makes calls to the ports of the TOT of Ukraine. 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 January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian and russian crude oil/oil products. In particular, the vessel called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly trading above the upper limit set by the price cap on russian crude oil/oil products. The vessel is affiliated with Hong Kong Yongye Shipping Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel, which is considered to be part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Hong Kong Yongye Shipping Limited has an interest.

The tanker during the period of the G7+ oil embargo, price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black Sea, from the reloading complex based on FSO Umba in the Kola Bay, including the use of deceptive practices. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with Prominent Shipmanagement Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Prominent Shipmanagement Limited has an interest.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker ss involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Seas, and the Pacific region, including in violation of the embargo in May 2024 from the russian port of Ust-Luga to Malta.The vessel called at a russian port where the price of oil was constantly trading above the price cap. The tanker, through related companies, including the sanctioned Sun Ship Management, is affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and supports offshore hydrocarbon production and the transportation of russian oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas. The major charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. PJSC Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others. The previous owner of the vessel was Kupa Lines Incorporated, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel, which is considered part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Kupa Lines Incorporated has an interest.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, the tanker is engaged in exporting russian crude oil/oil products to third countries from russian ports, in particular in the Black and Baltic Seas, in particular in violation of the embargo in March 2023 from a russian port in the Black Sea to the Lakonikos Gulf (Greece). 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. The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Agro Tanker Group LLC, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Agro Tanker Group LLC has an interest.