Shadow Fleet

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, is involved in the supply chain of russian crude oil/petroleum products mainly from russian ports in the Black Sea to third countries, including through STS transfers with russian affiliations. Transshipment of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin by STS method allows to conceal ownership and origin of the cargo, and legalize their supply to EU, 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 vessel has been engaged in dark activities near the russian port of Tuapse, Lebanon, Sudan and South Sudan, and Saudi Arabia.
On January 28, 2025, in the area near Greece, the tanker IMO 9253234 carried out an STS transfer with the tanker IMO 9314894, which arrived for transshipment in the area near Greece from the russian port of Novorossiysk, in particular the Sheskaris terminal, which is a transshipment complex, the final point of the main pipelines of Chernomortransneft JSC (TIN: 2315072242, under USA sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian Transneft PJSC (TIN: 7706061801). At the same time, the tanker IMO 9314894 is affiliated with the Indian companies Orion Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, Zidan Ship Management, were involved in a scheme of "juggling" vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions.
On January 09, 2025, in the area near Greece, tanker IMO 9253234 carried out an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9247443, after which tanker IMO 9253234 called at the port of Said (Egypt). On February 05, 2025, in the area near Greece, tanker IMO 9253234 carried out an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9247443, after which on February 13, 2025, tanker IMO 9253234 called at the port of Benghazi (Libya). On February 21, 2025, after leaving the port of Benghazi (Libya), near Cyprus, tanker IMO 9253234 carried out an STS transfer with the same tanker IMO 9247443, after which tanker IMO 9253234 called at the port of Alexandria (Egypt). Since July 2024, tanker IMO 9247443 without proper insurance of the International P&I Club has been operating in the area of Greece, Cyprus as a floating STS transshipment hub of russian wet cargo delivered to the area of Greece, Cyprus for transshipment mainly from the russian ports of Tuapse, Novorossiysk, as well as from the Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex, Primorsk, Ust-Luga. Such deliveries from russian ports for further transshipment via tanker IMO 9247443 in European waters are carried out by a number of tankers, in particular, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management.
On March 07, 2025, in the area near Cyprus, tanker IMO 9253234 carried out an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9422988, which was sanctioned by USA on March 20, 2025 as part of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of Iranian oil to Chinese (teapot) refineries.
On March 08, 2025, near Cyprus, tanker IMO 9253234 carried out an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9299862, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, which arrived in the area near Cyprus from the russian Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex.
Participation in other STS transfers with russian affiliation.
The tanker IMO 9253234 is affiliated with the Indian company Plutos Ship Management, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Orion Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping, Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme of "juggling" vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions.
On May 09, 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 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.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On September 25, 2025, the tanker transported nearly 33,000 tons of russian-origin petroleum products from the port of Tuapse for export to the port of Said (Egypt). The cargo was shipped by Rosneft.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of 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 is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports to third countries, and engages in dark activities in the area of the russian port of Ust-Luga.
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the tanker IMO 9297369.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports since November 2023, including the deceptive, high-risk practices of conducting dark activities in the Baltic and Black Seas near russian ports.
In 2024, a tanker under the command of Captain Tran Thang Tat (a Vietnamese national) transported petroleum products originating from the sanctioned russian oil company PJSC Lukoil from the russian port of Vysotsk to Malaysia.
The tanker carried out an STS transfer in March 2025 in the Kerch Strait with tanker IMO 9235000, which is classified by the international NGO Greenpeace as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian crude oil around the world and threatening the environment. In February 2025, an STS transfer took place in the Laconikos Gulf (Greece) with the VLCC-class supertanker 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, and Gatik's 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 operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of 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, is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea (Ust-Luga, Primorsk), including the use of deceptive, high-risk practices in the Baltic Sea near the russian ports of Vistino and Ust-Luga. In particular, in February 2025, near the russian ports of Vistino and Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea, a tanker carried out STS transshipment of commodity from the tanker IMO 9164718, flagged by the russian federation.
In 2024, a tanker under the command of captains Mikhail Stryzhak, Andrey Lemeshko and Vladislav Pavitsky transported russian crude oil, mainly originating from the sanctioned russian oil company PJSC Lukoil, from the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga to India and Turkey.
The tanker is affiliated with Stellar Ship Solutions LLC (IMO 0055533), registered at an address in Azerbaijan (Apartment 18, Building 6, Estate 76, AZ 5006, Sumqayit), which is almost identical to the addresses of other companies from Azerbaijan that manage tankers involved in the sanctioned trade in russian crude oil/petroleum products (Fleetcraft Management LLC (address: Apartment 17, Building 5, Estate 76, Sulh Street AZ 5006, Sumqayit Azerbaijan), Titan Marine Management LLC (address: Apartment 17, Building 30, Estate 18, AZ 5000, Sumqayit Azerbaijan), Light Navigation LLC (address: Apartment 130, House 5, Block 15, AZ 5000, Sumqayit Azerbaijan), Aegis Voyage Shipmanagement (address: Apartment 6, House 34, Block 18, Heydar Aliyev Avenue AZ 5000, Sumqayit Azerbaijan), etc.
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 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.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada 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.

The tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas since February 2023 (almost immediately after the introduction of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products). During this period, from February 2023, the tanker was managed by 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/petroleum products in the face of Western sanctions. Until August 2024, technical management was carried out by companies related to Gatik Ship Management - Orion Ship Management, Caishan Ship Management, which, together with Gaurik Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, Zidan Ship Management, were involved in a scheme to "juggle" vessels managed by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions.
Since the second half of 2024, the tanker has been actively involved in STS transfers in transshipment areas, in particular near Greece and Italy with tankers that came to transshipment areas from russian ports.
In December 2024, an STS transfer took place near Greece with the tanker IMO 9397535, affiliated with the sanctioned russian PJSC Sovcomflot, and on January 10, 2025, USA sanctions were imposed on the IMO 9397535.
Also, in December 2024, an STS transfer took place near Greece with the tanker IMO 9343986, which left the port of Tuapse on December 11, 2024. At the same time, the technical management of the tanker IMO 9343986 is carried out by Valegro LLC-FZ (IMO 0080182, UAE), which also manages the tanker IMO 9276561, which is considered part of the shadow fleet and was sanctioned by EU and Switzerland in 2025.
In October 2024, an STS transfer took place near the port of Augusta (Italy) with the tanker IMO 9290517, affiliated with Gatik Ship Management, which arrived in the Augusta area from russian ports in the Baltic Sea (St. Petersburg, Ust-Luga).
On August 14, 2024, an STS transfer took place near Greece with the tanker IMO 9278698, which left the russian port of Tuapse on August 08, 2024.
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9289776.
On April 28, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as part of the restrictions on ships delivering oil products to the Houthis, who are part of the Iranian regime's network of terrorist intermediaries and partners.
On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation.
In June 2025, Canada 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).
On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been involved since March 2023 in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports using deceptive, high-risk practices. In particular, the vessel engages in dark activities near russian ports on the Black Sea and carries out STS transfers in high-risk areas.
Since April 2023, the vessel has been regularly exporting russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Vysotsk, Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Novorossiysk, including engaging in dark activities in the Baltic Sea near the port of Vysotsk, south of the Kerch Strait.
In August 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the tanker's master.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports since March 2023, using deceptive, high-risk practices, in particular, conducting dark operations near russian ports in the Black Sea, and making STS transmissions in high-risk areas.
On January 15, 2025, a tanker in the vicinity of the port of Malacca (Malaysia) made an STS transmission with the super tanker IMO 9288083, and the vessel IMO 9289518 arrived in the Malacca area from the russian port of Novorossiysk. In July 2024, an STS transfer took place in the Kerch Strait with tanker IMO 9224441, affiliated with the sanctioned russian PJSC Sovcomflot.
The vessel is affiliated with one of the leading operators of the so-called 'shadow' fleet, Radiating World Shipping Services LLC (UAE, under UK sanctions). At the beginning of 2023, Radiating World Shipping Services LLC was one of the three largest carriers of russian oil, along with Fractal Marine Shipping (UAE) and Gatik Ship Management (India). At that time, the fleet of Fractal Marine Shipping, Radiating World Shipping Services and Gatik Ship Management consisted of about 90 tankers, 90% of which transported crude oil and petroleum products from the Baltic and Black Sea ports of russia to India, China, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and South America. In order to circumvent the sanctions, Radiating World Shipping Services 're-signed' its fleet to related companies.
Tankers operated/managed by Radiating World Shipping Services LLC continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products since January 2024, in particular, using deceptive high-risk practices, including in the transshipment area near Greece.
In April and December 2024, STS transfers took place near Greece with tankers IMO 9352195 and IMO 9299862, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading shadow fleet operators that played a key role in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions, and in December 2024 with tanker IMO 9266475, which was subject to USA sanctions on February 24, 2025.
In December 2023, Blossom Bridge Corp (IMO 6437580), registered in the Seychelles at Suite 10, 3rd Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles, which is widely used for registration of shipping companies with non-transparent ownership structure, became the owner and commercial manager of the tanker, and the Moldovan company Surt Ship Management SRL became the technical manager. This Moldovan company is one of the ten Moldovan companies that played a significant role in the maritime transportation of russian crude oil and petroleum products in 2024. In September 2024, the technical management was transferred to Seafaring Savants LLC (Azerbaijan), while the owner and commercial manager of the tanker did not change, which may indicate that the beneficiary of the vessel has not changed. Since August 2025, technical management has been carried out by Nebulon Steelviel LLC (Azerbaijan), while Blossom Bridge Corp. remains the owner and commercial manager of the tanker.
After the change of management, the tanker continues to make calls to russian ports with oil terminals.
On May 09, 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.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In August 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the tanker's master.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular from the russian port of Nakhodka.
The vessel is also involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products.
On June 20, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on a vessel for supplying petroleum products to Houthi-controlled ports (Ras Isa port) after the expiration of Counter Terrorism General License (GL) 25A. As of mid-June 2025, the tanker had discharged nearly 60,000 metric tons of gasoline at the port of Ras Isa in Yemen, almost two months after the expiration of GL 25A.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products since December 2022 from russian ports, calls at the russian ports of Primorsk, Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg, Tuapse, and actively engages in shadow activities, in particular near russian ports in the Black Sea, near the southern coast of the TOT of Crimea, in the Kerch Strait area in the Sea of Azov.
The tanker was involved in multiple STS transmissions in the area of Greece and Cyprus with the tanker IMO 924744 without proper Western insurance, in particular in March 2025 (the tanker arrived in the area of Cyprus from the area of the russian port of Tuapse, where it had been conducting dark activities for a long time), in January 2025 (the tanker IMO 9208124 arrived in the area of Greece from the area near the russian port of Tuapse, where it had been conducting dark activities for a long time), etc.
In March 2025, an STS transfer took place near the port of Said (Egypt) with the tanker IMO 9105114, which until September 2022 operated under the russian flag, owned and operated by the russian company Rusprimeexport LLC. Currently, the vessel IMO 9105114 is sailing under the flag of Cameroon, owned and operated by Fineas Marine Inc, registered in the Marshall Islands at an address that is widely used to register companies affiliated with the shadow fleet and involved in the sanctioned wet cargo trade. At the same time, the tanker IMO 9105114 has been systematically and actively engaged in long-lasting dark activities, in particular in the area of Libya, and was tracked by the International NGO Greenpeace in the port of Benghazi (Libya) when the ship's AIS signal was not tracked. Recently, there has been an increase in the flow of commodities to Libya, including those of russian origin, which are transported, among other things, via STS transmissions, probably for further redirection to other destinations.
The tanker is affiliated with Peninsula Energy FZE (UAE), incorporated in January 2015, which manages the tanker. According to available information, the activities of Peninsula Energy FZE are actually managed from St. Petersburg (Russia), including the recruitment of personnel. Peninsula Energy FZE also cooperates with the sanctioned company PJSC Gazprom Neft in terms of purchasing oil products.
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.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since October 30, 2025, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on the tanker.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.

The tanker, during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian petroleum products from Baltic and Black Sea ports to third countries.
In particular, in March 2025, the tanker transported diesel of russian origin from the port of Ust-Luga to Turkey in the interests of PJSC NOVATEK, PJSC Oil Company Rosneft, PJSC SIBUR Holding, and from the port of Vysotsk it exported gasoil of russian origin in the interests of PJSC Lukoil. In August 2025 the vessel transported naphtha from the Sheshkharis terminal in the port of Novorossiysk to India (Mundra Multi-Purpose Terminal).
On December 13, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the tanker.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.

The tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products since March 2023 during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian oil/petroleum products, and has been actively engaged in dark activities in the Baltic and Black Seas near russian ports with oil terminals. The vessel is involved in high-risk practices, such as STS transmissions near European countries. In particular, in 2024, near Greece, the vessel carried out STS transfers with the tanker IMO 9209972, which was subject to USA sanctions in February 2025, and with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9247443, which operates near Greece and Cyprus as a floating STS hub for transshipment of wet cargo, including that of russian origin. There is also an STS transmission in the area of Port Said (Egypt) with the tanker IMO 9258026, which was subject to USA sanctions in February 2025. In June 2025, in the area near Cyprus, tanker IMO 9290921 carried out an STS transfer with tanker of the russia's shadow fleet IMO 9352195, which was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in May 2025 as part of the restrictions imposed on the russian shadow fleet.
In October 2024, the ISM management of the tanker was transferred to Tidal Tech Mariners LLC (Azerbaijan) from the Moldovan company MRK Shipmanagement SRL. The Moldovan company MRK Shipmanagement SRL, along with a number of other Moldovan companies, is involved in the creation of a part of the shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products. The shadow tankers managed by Moldovan companies (Adel Ship Management SRL, BPC Shipmanagement SRL, MRK Shipmanagement SRL, KSN Shipmanagement SRL, OST Shipmanagement SRL, Surt Ship Management SRL, SAL Shipmanagement SRL, FLC Shipmanagement SRL) are transferred to the management of Azerbaijani companies, in particular Dream Island Shipping LLC, Ocean Voyage LLC, Tidal Tech Mariners LLC, Seafaring Savants LLC, VVave Minder Shipmanagement, Triton Technical Services LLC, Navigenix Shipmanagement LLC, Nautilus Fleet Management LLC, Harbor Harmony Shipmanagement, and others.
On May 09, 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.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In August 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the captain Batalov Dmitrii.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.