Marine vessels

The tanker during the period of the G7+ oil embargo, the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, and carries out high-risk practices (STS transfers) in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece), in particular, with tankers affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions. In August 2023, an STS transfer took place in the Gulf of Laconikos (Greece) with the tanker IMO 9402732 of the VLCC class, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, which during this period also carried out STS transfers, in particular, with the tanker IMO 9332834, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, IMO tanker 9332834 left the russian port of Ust-Luga on July 23, 2023 and arrived in the Gulf of Laconikos on August 09, 2023 (tanker IMO 9332834 has been under UK sanctions since February 24, 2025 for engaging in activities the purpose or effect of which is to destabilize Ukraine, undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or to benefit from or support the russian government, or to participate in the transportation of crude oil/oil products of russian origin or from russia to a third country). In September 2024, an STS transmission took place with the tanker IMO 9252333 of the VLCC class in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece), which, in turn, carries out STS transmissions with tankers arriving in the Gulf of Lakonikos from russian ports, in particular, Ust-Luga. 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 tanker during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products, including the use of deceptive, high-risk practices, including the conduct of dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea, in the Sea of Azov near the Kerch Strait, near the FSO IMO 9217979 (under USA sanctions) in the Kola Bay, and STS transfers of russian crude oil/oil products in the Gulf of Laconikos in July and September 2024 with tankers IMO 9232931 and IMO 9252333, respectively. The tanker also transported sanctioned Iranian crude oil and switched to transporting russian crude oil. 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 during the period of the G7+ oil embargo, the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular, from russian ports in the Black Sea, systematic deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea). In December 2024, the tanker entered the port of Kamysh-Burun in the TOT of Crimea with AIS turned off. In February 2025, in September-October 2024, near Greece, a tanker that arrived from the Kerch Strait, where it had been conducting so-called “dark activities” for 7 days, and the port of Tuapse, respectively, conducted STS transmissions with the tanker IMO 9402732 of the VLCC class, 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/petroleum products under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. 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. In October 2024, STS transmissions were made in the Kerch Strait area with tanker IMO 9353125, affiliated with Gatik Ship Management, and tanker IMO 9315446, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025, as a tanker considered part of the shadow fleet, calling at a russian port where oil is constantly trading above the upper price cap.

The tanker, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products mainly from russian ports in the Black Sea (Tuapse, Novorossiysk, Taman (Zhelezny Rog)), using high-risk, deceptive practices (turning off AIS, STS transmissions near Greece). The tanker also calls at the port of Kamysh-Burun in the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine. On January 20, 2025, near Greece, where the tanker IMO 9255830 arrived from the Kerch Strait with AIS turned off, an STS transmission took place with the tanker IMO 9402732 of the VLCC class, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, which in 2022-2023 was one of the top players in the shadow tanker fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products under Western sanctions. On February 08, 2025, an STS transfer of russian crude oil/oil products exported from the port of Tuapse in the Black Sea took place near Greece with the same tanker IMO 9402732 of the VLCC class.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the VLCC tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular, through STS transfers near European countries. In particular, the tanker carried out STS transmissions with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9419448 in July 2024 in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece), which left the russian port of Ust-Luga on June 23, 2024. There are also STS transmissions in the Laconikos Gulf (Greece) with the super tanker IMO 9402732, 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/petroleum products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions. The super tanker IMO 9402732 carries out STS transmissions with tankers delivering russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular from russian ports in the Black Sea. Earlier, there were STS transmissions in the Laconikos Gulf with the tanker IMO 9144782 of the shadow fleet built in 1997, which is also involved in the transportation of Iranian oil. 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 tanker, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black Sea, and resorts to deceptive, high-risk practices, in particular, systematic shutdowns of AIS in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea, STS transmissions, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea in February 2025 with the tanker IMO 9185530, which has been under USA sanctions since March 26, 2024 for the transportation of Iranian commodities to China, in November, December 2024, January 2025 in the Gulf of Laconikos with the tanker IMO 9402732 of VLCC class affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. Since January 2023, the tanker has had three changes of management, flag country, and twice the name of the vessel. The tanker is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and the Gatik-related company Gaurik Ship Management LLP, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Orion Ship Management LLP, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping (India), Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to 'juggle' vessels managed by Gatik Ship Management in order to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Gaurik Ship Management LLP were the previous managers of the vessel. Tankers operated/managed by the Indian Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports.

The tanker during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Pacific Ocean region, delivers russian crude oil from russian ports in the Black Sea to the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece) for further STS transfers with the supertanker SAATHI (IMO 9402732, VLCC type), 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/oil products under Western sanctions in 2022-2023.

In August-September 2024, the tanker carried out STS transfers of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the tanker SAMUDRA (formerly GOLDEN MILE, IMO 9337901), which departed from the russian port of Tuapse. The tanker SAMUDRA 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 oil/oil products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions. In November 2024, an STS transmission was made from the sanctioned IMO tanker 9281891 (involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian and russian oil), which left the port of Taman. There were also STS transfers with russian oil from the sanctioned tankers IMO 9315446 and IMO 9271951. At the same time, there are frequent STS transfers of russian oil from the tanker IMO 9294123. In particular, such transfers in the Laconian Gulf took place on January 10, 2025, and in early February 2025. The tanker CHONGCHON sailed to the Laconian Gulf from the russian port of Novorossiysk. The tanker CHONGCHON is affiliated with Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, which, together with other companies (Galena Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Orion Ship Management LLP, Nautilus Shipping, Zidan Ship Management) was involved in a scheme to “juggle” ships from the Indian company Gatik. Also, in December 2024, the SAATHI tanker bunkered with the oil product tanker ASCENDANT (IMO 9248801), affiliated with Gatik, in the Laconian Gulf. The tanker SAATHI is also affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and the Gatik-related company Gaurik Ship Management, which in 2023, together with Galena Ship Management LLP, Caishan 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 managed by Gatik Ship Management in order to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Galena Ship Management were the previous managers of the tanker. Tankers operated/managed by the Indian Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports. Since the beginning of the sanctions against the oil sector of the russian federation, the tanker SAATHI has had two changes of commercial manager, three changes of ISM manager, two changes of ship name, and three changes of flag country. The vessel is certified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). The shadow fleet of the russian federation continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, masking its activities under “convenient” flags, using complex ownership and management schemes to conceal the real owners, resorting to deceptive, high-risk practices, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries due to the obsolescence and improper maintenance of ships.

The tanker is engaged in transportation of russian oil products to third countries and has repeatedly delivered shipments of russian oil products to the transshipment point in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece). The vessel is actively using deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS near Greece, Malta, in the Kerch Strait area). The tanker CHONGCHON is affiliated with Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, which is linked to India's Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called “shadow” fleet, which played a key role in the transportation of russian oil under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC along with a number of other companies, namely Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Orion Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping (India), Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to “juggle” vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions.

The tanker for the transportation of oil products during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products is involved in the transportation of crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, in particular, in the area of the port of Ust-Luga). The tanker is affiliated through the sanctioned companies Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied 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. Since October 2024, the tanker has been operated by Thunder Shipmanagement LLC-FZ (UAE). As of February 14, 2025, the fleet of Thunder Shipmanagement LLC-FZ consists of 21 oil tankers affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot. The company's fleet includes sanctioned oil tankers, in particular SAPPHIRE (IMO 9309576), HYPERION (IMO 9322968), SYMPHONY (IMO 9309588), TALISMAN (IMO 9292060), TANGO (IMO 9292058), TOPAZ (IMO 9292034), PEGASUS (IMO 9276028), PROXIMA (IMO 9329655), PATHFINDER (IMO 9577094) and others. After the sanctions were imposed, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it created, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and started the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. Tankers 're-registered' by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies continue to transport russian crude oil/oil products under Western sanctions.

The tanker, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, is involved in the transportation of crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black Sea using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, in particular, in the Kerch Strait, Greece). The tanker is affiliated through the sanctioned companies SCF Management Services Cyprus (Cyprus), Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and provides offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied 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. Since September 2024, the commercial manager of the tanker has been the Turkish company Golden Gate Ship Management Ltd, and since October 2024, the ISM manager has been the Turkish company Pier Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Ltd. These Turkish companies manage another tanker AKAR WEST (IMO 9258167), affiliated through the sanctioned companies SCF Management Services Cyprus (Cyprus), Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with PJSC Sovcomflot. After the sanctions were imposed, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and started the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. Tankers 're-registered' by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies continue to transport russian crude oil/oil products under Western sanctions.

The tanker, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, is involved in the transportation of crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black Sea using deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area). The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Kamysh-Burun, Feodosia). The tanker is affiliated through the sanctioned companies SCF Management Services Cyprus (Cyprus), Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and provides offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied 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. Since September 2024, the commercial manager of the tanker has been the Turkish company Golden Gate Ship Management Ltd and the ISM manager is the Turkish company Pier Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Ltd. These Turkish companies manage another tanker HASAN EAST (IMO 9292046), affiliated through the sanctioned companies SCF Management Services Cyprus (Cyprus), Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with PJSC Sovcomflot. After the sanctions were imposed, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it created, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and started the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. Tankers 're-registered' by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies continue to transport russian crude oil/oil products under Western sanctions. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9258167.