Shadow Fleet

Marine vessels involved in the transportation of sanctioned oil
Total number:
1404
Marine vessels
534
Masters
Updated: 07.05.2026
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more than 100 million tons (approximately 17% of the world`s oil tanker fleet) consists of more than a thousand mostly outdated, poorly maintained vessels without proper insurance, with ‘confusing’ ownership and management structures located in ‘friendly’ jurisdictions, under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: 88 516 тис.тоннTotal: 854
RANGLER
Vessel name
RANGLER
IMO
9206671
Flag (Current)
Cameroon Cameroon
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
Category
Cargo transportation from/to ТОТ of Ukraine
icon arrow-tree Calling ports of the TOT
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 oil to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, transshipment of russian oil from ship to ship in the area of anchorages in Greece and Malta. The transshipment of oil from ship to ship off the coast of Greece and Malta is reminiscent of the activities of the so-called 'STS hubs' that emerged several years ago in the UAE, Oman and Malaysia in response to USA sanctions against Venezuelan and Iranian oil. This methodology is aimed at concealing the origin, ownership and final destination of questionable cargo. The tanker resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal, conducting so-called 'dark activities', in particular in the Baltic Sea.
The tanker calls at ports in TOT Crimea, Ukraine, in particular, in May 2025, the vessel called at the port of Komysh-Burun.
The tanker is also involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and petroleum products.
The owner and commercial manager of the vessel is Ethereal Harbor Corp, a company registered in the Seychelles. The ISM manager of the tanker is Harmony Voyage Shipmanagement, a Kazakh company. The fleet of these companies consists only of the tanker ІМО 9206671.
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9206671.
Since May 21 and June 3, 2025, the EU and Switzerland, respectively, have imposed sanctions on the vessel for transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from rRussia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192(33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 19, 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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ASTERI
Vessel name
ASTERI
IMO
9282493
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, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, of the Pacific region mainly to China and India.
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment.
The tanker is linked to sanctioned companies Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), Algae Ship Charter FZCO (UAE), and The Zulu Ships Management and Operation — Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE), which managed the vessel in 2022-2024.
Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) is considered one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet, which in early 2023 was among the three largest carriers of russian oil, together with Radiating World Shipping Services LLC (UAE) and Gatik Ship Management (India), and played a significant role in the export of russian crude oil to countries around the world during the period of sanctions restrictions. Fractal Marine DMCC managed a fleet of 28 tankers as an intermediary between shipowners and charterers.
Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), Algae Ship Charter FZCO (UAE), The Zulu Ships Management and Operation — Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE) are part of a shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, the 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 vessels, 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. The shipping empire takes significant measures to conceal its operations and obscure its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
Fractal Marine DMCC played an important role in the management and operation of the tanker and container ship fleet of Mohammed Hossein Shamkhani's shipping network. Algae Ship Charter FZCO, Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), and The Zulu Ships Management and Operation — Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE) provide operational services for the fleet of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping network.
Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ provided technical management for the vessel IMO 9308065, which was involved in an incident in the Baltic Sea due to technical malfunctions. On January 10, 2025, the IMO vessel 9308065, loaded with russian oil (99,000 tons) in the port of Ust-Luga, lost control in the Baltic Sea. According to the German Havariekommando, the ship's power supply and engine failed, it lost its ability to maneuver and began to drift at low speed in the open sea near the island of Rügen. This incident once again demonstrates the growing threat of oil spills from aging ships in the shadow fleet.
The tanker is also linked to Tarabya Logistics Ltd (UAE), which was sanctioned by the EU and Switzerland in July and August 2025 for operating vessels that engaged in illicit and high-risk shipping practices (sailing with gaps in automatic identification systems and high-risk ship-to-ship transshipments) while transporting oil of russian origin or exported from russia.
Since February 25, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland have respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33).
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9282493.
On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet.
According to GISIS IMO data as of July 15, 2025, the vessel's registration name is ASTERI, and the flag is designated as "Sint Maarten False".
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 19, 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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SEA HONOR
Vessel name
SEA HONOR
IMO
9315654
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 during the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil since the end of 2023 has been involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas to third countries.
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment.
According to the American 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 switched to transporting russian oil in November 2023. 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.
At the end of 2023, the tanker IMO 9315654 transported more than a million barrels of crude oil worth tens of millions of dollars on behalf of al-Jamal and the sanctioned Houthi businessman Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud from Turkey.
On October 17, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.
From July 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting crude oil/petroleum products that originate in russia or are exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33).
According to the database of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System of the International Maritime Organization (IMO's GISIS), as of July 21, 2025, the vessel's registered name is SEA HONOR, and the flag is listed as "Guyana False". At the same time, the vessel sails under the name S HON, the flag of Malawi.
On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On October 15, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.
On February 19, 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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KAIROS
Vessel name
KAIROS
IMO
9236004
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, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, has been involved in the export of russian crude oil to third countries since November 2023. In August 2024, in violation of the oil embargo, the vessel transported russian crude oil from the russian port of Taman on the Black Sea and delivered it to a transshipment point south of the Gulf of Laconia, west of the island of Kythira.
On October 25, 2025, the tanker transported russian Urals crude oil from the Sheshkharis terminal in the port of Novorossiysk to India in the interests of PJSC Lukoil.
The international public organization Greenpeace classified the tanker as a shadow fleet.
Since May 21 and June 3, 2025, the EU and Switzerland, respectively, have imposed sanctions on the vessel for transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from rRussia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192(33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 19, 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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ZHUO YUAN
Vessel name
ZHUO YUAN
IMO
9408683
Flag (Current)
Panama Panama
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, during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports on the Black Sea and in the Pacific region to India and China in the interests of the largest russian oil companies.
Specifically, in May 2025, the tanker exported russian ESPO crude from the port of Kozmino to India (Paradip) in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft" and PJSC "Surgutneftegaz" . In June 2025, the vessel exported russian ESPO crude from the port of Kozmino to India (Paradip) in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
In January 2026, the tanker transported russian ESPO crude oil from the port of Kozmino to China in the interests of Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC (UAE), which was sanctioned by the United Kingdom on December 18, 2025, for activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC is the largest exporter of russian crude oil within the shadow network of russian oil traders — the "2Rivers Group" (Coral Energy). Key roles in this network are played by several azerbaijani traders: Tahir Garayev, Etibar Eyyub, Talat Safarov, and Ahmed Kerimov.
In February 2026, the vessel exported russian ESPO crude oil from the port of Kozmino to China in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft" and PJSC "Surgutneftegaz".
In August and September 2025, the tanker exported russian crude oil from the russian Black Sea port to India in the interests of PJSC Lukoil.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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PAROS
Vessel name
PAROS
IMO
9296195
Flag (Current)
Panama Panama
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, during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products from russian ports on the Baltic Sea and in the Pacific region to third countries.
In particular, in July 2025, the tanker exported russian ESPO crude oil from the port of Kozmino to India in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft". In September 2025, the vessel exported russian Urals crude oil from the port of Primorsk to Turkey on behalf of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
In November 2025, the tanker exported russian petroleum products from the port of Vysotsk to Saudi Arabia in the interests of PJSC "Lukoil."
In January 2026, the vessel exported russian petroleum products from the ports of Vysotsk and Ust-Luga to Malaysia in the interests of Alghaf Marine DMCC and PJSC "Novatek" . 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 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 February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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