Shadow Fleet

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 in the Pacific region to India in the interests of the largest russian oil companies.
In particular, in February 2025, the tanker exported russian ESPO crude oil from the port of Kozmino to India in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
The tanker is also involved in the transportation of Venezuelan crude oil / petroleum products.
From the time of its build until at least 2020, the tanker was affiliated with PJSC Sovcomflot and its related companies, including Sun Ship Management.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

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.

Tanker during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, engaged in the export of russian petroleum products from russian ports on the Baltic Sea in the interests of PJSC "Lukoil", russian Urals crude from the russian port of Ust-Luga to India in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft," to Turkey in the interests of PJSC "Tatneft," from the russian port of Primorsk to India in the interests of PJSC "Lukoil," to Turkey in the interests of PJSC "Tatneft," from the "Sheshkharis" terminal at the port of Novorossiysk in the interests of Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC (UAE), which was sanctioned by the UK 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)—in which several Azerbaijani traders, including Tahir Garayev, Etibar Eyyub, Talat Safarov, and Ahmed Kerimov.
Specifically, in January 2026, the tanker exported more than 628,000 barrels of Urals crude oil from the Sheshkharis terminal at the Port of Novorossiysk to India; the cargo seller was Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC.
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil worldwide and posing a threat to the environment.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker, during the period of the oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports on the Baltic Sea to India and China.
In August 2025, the tanker transported russian Urals crude oil from the port of Primorsk to the PRC in the interests of PJSC Lukoil.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since June 2026, the vessel has been owned and operated by Jia Xiang Da Shipping Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in Hong Kong.
In August 2026, the tanker, operating in the interests of PJSC Lukoil, exported more than 85,000 metric tons of petroleum products from the port of Vysotsk to Egypt.

Tanker during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports on the Baltic Sea to India.
In February 2025, the vessel exported russian Urals crude oil from the russian port of Ust-Luga to India in the interests of PJSC "Surgutneftegaz".
In August 2025, the tanker exported russian Urals crude oil to India from the russian port of Primorsk in the interests of PJSC Oil Company Rosneft.
The vessel was also involved in the export of russian Urals crude oil from russian ports on the Baltic Sea to India in June and October 2025.
The international non-governmental organization Greenpeace classifies the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and posing a threat to the environment.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Tanker during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, engaged in the export of russian Urals crude oil from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas to India in the interests of PJSC "Surgutneftegaz", JSC "Zarubezhneft," and PJSC "Lukoil."
In March 2025, the vessel exported russian Urals crude oil from the russian port of Primorsk to India in the interests of PJSC "Surgutneftegaz."
In November 2025, the tanker exported russian Urals crude oil to India from the russian port of Primorsk in the interests of JSC "Zarubezhneft".
In December 2025, the tanker transported russian Urals crude oil to India from the Sheshkharis terminal at the port of Novorossiysk in the interests of PJSC Lukoil.
From June 2022 to August 2026, the vessel was operated by Stealth Maritime Corporation SA, headquartered in Greece.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
According to available information, in May and July 2026, the tanker transported more than 165,000 metric tons of russian crude oil from Primorsk and Novorossiysk to India.
Starting in August 2026, there were changes in the vessel’s management. Since August 2026, the tanker has been owned and/or managed by companies incorporated in countries outside the G7+ coalition. Specifically, technical management of the tanker was transferred to Zeythra Group LLC-FZ (UAE). As of September 2026, Zeythra Group LLC-FZ manages the group of oil tankers involved in the export of russian crude/petroleum products sanctioned by Ukraine.

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 Urals crude oil and petroleum products from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas and in the Pacific region to third countries, in particular, in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
In February 2025, the tanker exported russian petroleum products from the port of Taman to the PRC in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft."
In April 2025, the vessel exported russian ESPO crude oil from the port of Kozmino to India in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft."
In June 2025, the tanker exported russian Urals crude oil from the port of Ust-Luga to India.
In September 2025, the vessel exported russian Urals crude oil in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft" from the port of Primorsk to India.
In November 2025, the tanker exported russian Urals crude oil from the port of Ust-Luga to Turkey in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft."
In December 2025, the vessel exported russian Urals crude from the Sheskharis terminal at the port of Novorossiysk to India.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In 2026, the vessel continues to play a role in facilitating the maritime export of russian crude oil and petroleum products from the ports of Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga, particularly to India and Saudi Arabia.

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 Baltic Sea to third countries.
In particular, in March 2024, the vessel exported russian Urals crude oil from the port of Primorsk to India in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
The vessel also transported Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil / petroleum products.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.