Marine vessels

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black and Azov Seas, mainly to Turkey and Egypt, using deceptive practices (disabling AIS, spoofing), including in the Kerch Strait area. In October 2023, the vessel carried out STS transmissions with the oil product tanker BORAY (IMO 9198783) with a deadweight of almost 75 thousand tons, which was sanctioned by USA in January 2025 as property in which the sanctioned company Sunor International LLC, which is involved in the energy sector of the russian economy, has an interest. The vessel belongs to the russian company Middle Volga Shipping Company LLC (subject to Ukrainian sanctions), which is a supplier to the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot under the russian state procurement system (at least under two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles). Rosnefteflot JSC is a part of the group of the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, a russian state-owned oil and gas company, one of the world's largest oil producers. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC are, in particular, chartering of the tanker fleet for the benefit of Rosneft, organization of river transportation in the interests of Rosneft in the Volga-Don, Azov-Don, Volga and Volga-Baltic basins. 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.

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 for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. After the vessel was sanctioned, the tanker changed its name, flag country, and management. 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.

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. 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.

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. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9299680. 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.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, mainly to Brazil and other third countries, including the use of 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 for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas. 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. 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.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Sea, and Pacific regions, mainly to India. In 2025, the tanker left the area near the russian port of Ust-Luga, where it had been conducting dark activities, and transported russian crude oil/petroleum products to an area near Cuba, where it made an STS transfer with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9259692 and IMO 9298961. The vessel is owned and operated by the sanctioned russian company JSC Rosnefteflot, which is a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, a russian state-owned oil and gas company, one of the world's largest oil producers. Rosnefteflot JSC carries out technical and commercial management of floating drilling rigs; technical and commercial management of the ice-class transport and towing fleet in Arctic conditions; technical and commercial management of the tanker fleet in Arctic waters; ensures the operation of the port fleet; provides services in the ports of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Vostochny, Primorskoe, Tuapse, Novorossiysk, Ust-Luga, and Primorsk. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the tanker IMO 9842190. 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.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region, mainly to India. The ice-class tanker is the second vessel in a series of new generation Aframax-size large-capacity tankers built to order by the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot at the sanctioned shipyard SSK Zvezda LLC. The construction was financed by the sanctioned VEB.rf. Upon completion of the construction, the vessel was chartered on a long-term basis (under a 20-year time charter agreement) by the sanctioned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company to provide sea transportation of russian export cargoes. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. 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.

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, and resorts to deceptive practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities near the russian port of Ust-Luga). On May 20, 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.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from the russian port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea to third countries. The tanker is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called 'shadow' fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil under Western sanctions, and the company Caishan Ship Management, which is affiliated with Gatik, which in 2023, together with Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Galena Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Orion Ship Management LLP, Nautilus Shipping (India), Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to 'juggle' vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Caishan Ship Management were the previous managers of the tanker. Tankers operated/managed by India's Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports. As sanctions are being imposed, russia uses a scheme of "juggling" ships between related companies to conceal oil exports outside the price cap and other restrictions, as well as to hide 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, 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. 'Shadow' tankers have already been involved in 50 incidents from the Danish Straits all the way to Malaysia since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. russia's 'shadow 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 November 25, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a tanker in connection with the transportation of russian oil/oil products from the russian federation to a third country as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9314167. 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.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, in violation of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil. In particular, in September 2024, the vessel exported russian oil/oil products from the russian port of Tuapse in the Black Sea to the EU countries (to Lesvos, Greece) in violation of the embargo. The vessel is certified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). The vessel is affiliated with ARK SeaKonnect Shipmanagment LLP (Mumbai, India), a company associated with Gatik Ship Management (India), which in 2022-2023 was among the top players in the shadow tanker fleet involved in the export of russian oil. Oil exports from russia are the most important source of income for the regime of the aggressor country to finance the war against Ukraine. From February 2022 to November 22, 2024, russia earned almost 546 billion euros in revenues from oil exports (69% of all revenues from fossil fuel exports). In 2023, about a third of all tax revenues in russia came from the sale of oil and gas. 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 the CREA data for October 2024, russia's revenues from crude oil exported by sea amounted to 210 million euros per day, 83% 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 17% of the total value of russian oil exported in October. Under the sanctions, russia has begun to build up its own shadow fleet of outdated tankers, which has no 'ties' with the G7 and the EU and can transport oil in violation of price caps. russia disguises its shadow activities at sea under the 'convenient' flags of third countries, operates at sea without proper insurance from the international club of insurers, uses complex schemes to conceal the owners of the shadow fleet, uses various deceptive tactics to conceal the origin of its cargo, creates threats to environmental safety with large-scale economic costs for coastal countries due to the growing threat of oil spills, does not use pilots to navigate difficult areas, etc. russia's 'shadow 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 November 25, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a tanker in connection with the transportation of russian oil/oil products from the russian federation to a third country as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9289752. 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.