Marine vessels

A VLCC-type tanker with a deadweight of almost 310,000 DWT is involved in the STS transshipment of sanctioned russian oil/oil products, in particular, in the waters of the Mid-Atlantic, hundreds of nautical miles from the coast. This high-risk, environmentally hazardous practice with russian oil is that tankers consolidate (receive via STS) oil cargoes from Aframax tankers loaded in russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas to larger tankers bound mainly for China. The beneficial owner of the vessel is SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. SUNNE CO LIMITED is affiliated with a tanker fleet that is considered part of the shadow fleet. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

The tanker is involved in STS transfers at anchorages off Malaysia, Qingdao from tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian or Venezuelan oil. The tanker resorts to disabling the automatic identification system, a behavioral pattern that indicates that the tanker is trying to avoid detection of the STS transfer. The VLCC was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent about $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for the high-risk transportation of crude oil of russian origin in the Atlantic Ocean. These 13 tankers include five Aframax vessels, seven very large crude oil carriers and one Suezmax vessel. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, these vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interconnected single-ship offshore companies from Hong Kong and China. Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were engaged in transshipment of cargoes in the established high-risk transshipment hub for russian crude oil for consolidation of cargoes in the area 860 nautical miles west of Portugal, in international waters. The registered owners, commercial managers, and ISM manager are characterized by an almost identical registration address in Dalian (PRC), and the same two addresses in Hong Kong. This group of tankers is considered to be the center of a fully operational mid-Atlantic transshipment hub for russian crude oil to China. Logistics STS hubs allow to conceal the ownership and origin of cargo. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic hub, transshipment centers include areas near Kalamata, Greece, Malta, Ceuta, and the Caucasus, where STS operations for russian crude oil have been established. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

According to United Against Nuclear Iran, the vessel was involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil and switched to the transportation of sanctioned russian oil. The Lauren II transports crude oil loaded by other tankers from ship to ship from the russian port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea. In particular, the Lauren II was tracked while loading a cargo of crude oil by means of a ship-to-ship transfer from the tanker Zhen I (IMO 9255880). The VLCC tanker was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent about $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for the high-risk transportation of russian-origin crude oil in the Atlantic Ocean. These 13 tankers include five Aframax vessels, seven very large crude oil carriers and one Suezmax vessel. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, these vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interconnected single-ship offshore companies from Hong Kong and China. Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were engaged in transshipment of cargoes in the established high-risk transshipment hub for russian crude oil for consolidation of cargoes in the area 860 nautical miles west of Portugal, in international waters. The registered owners, commercial managers, and ISM manager are characterized by an almost identical registration address in Dalian (PRC), and the same two addresses in Hong Kong. This group of tankers is considered to be the center of a fully operational mid-Atlantic transshipment hub for russian crude oil to China. Logistics STS hubs allow to conceal the ownership and origin of cargo. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic hub, transshipment centers include areas near Kalamata, Greece, Malta, Ceuta, and the Caucasus, where STS operations for russian crude oil have been established. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports to China and other third countries. 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, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 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. According to expert estimates, the tankers 'transferred' by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian and russian crude oil/oil products. In particular, the vessel called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly trading above the upper limit set by the price cap on russian crude oil/oil products. The vessel is affiliated with Hong Kong Yongye Shipping 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, which is considered to be part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Hong Kong Yongye Shipping Limited has an interest.

The tanker is affiliated with the Vietnamese company Sao Viet Petrol Transportation 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 vessel as a property in which Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Company Limited has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Pacific region, including through deceptive practices. The tanker is considered to be part of the shadow fleet, affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest. According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 17, 2025, the vessel's flag is unknown. At the same time, the vessel uses the flag of Panama.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports to third countries using deceptive, high-risk practices, and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on a vessel that considered as a part of the shadow fleet. According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 17, 2025, the vessel's flag is unknown. At the same time, the vessel uses the flag of Panama.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, mainly to China and India, and in dark activities with AIS disabled. The tanker is affiliated with Prominent Shipmanagement Limited (Hong Kong), which is an operator of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian and Iranian oil and which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 in relation to the management of the tanker fleet, the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian oil, including the Fjord Seal, which called at a russian port where the price of oil was constantly exceeding the upper ceiling of $60 per barrel, and the Samsun, which was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on a vessel considered to be part of the shadow fleet.

During the period of the G7 embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from the russian ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk in the Baltic Sea, Novorossiysk, Taman, and Zhelezny Rog in the Black Sea, Kozmino in the Pacific region, mainly to Turkey, China, and India, and resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal and conducting so-called 'dark activities' at sea, including in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea. 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. The vessel is certified by Lloyd's Register (IACS). The tanker is affiliated with Chemul Ships Management Co LTD (the company's address in the Equasis database is listed in the World Trade Tower in Shandong, China). Chemul Ships Management Co LTD operates another tanker, 'Spirit Of Casper' (IMO 9224271), which has been found to be involved in shadow trading activities, using deceptive shipping practices described in US government guidelines, which were often used during Iranian shipments off the coasts of Oman and the UAE to avoid detection of cargoes being loaded through ship-to-ship transfers in international waters. The owner and commercial manager of the vessel is Symi Shipping LTD, whose address in the Equasis database is 80 Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. This address in Liberia is common to other companies affiliated with shadowy oil tankers. russia's 'shadow fleet' continues to generate 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 safety 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 January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. According to GISIS IMO data as of July 15, 2025, the vessel's registration name is ADONIA, and the flag is designated as "Sint Maarten False".

The tanker (VLCC class) has been involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil, in particular, to China since at least 2020, and shipment of Iranian crude oil in the interests of the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by USA at the end of 2019 for violating restrictions on processing and transactions with Iranian oil, as well as the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil. Iran relies on an extensive network of tankers and ship management companies in many jurisdictions to transport its oil to consumers, using deceptive tactics (falsification of documentation, manipulation of ship tracking systems, constant changes of ship names and flags). The tanker is affiliated with Yurimaguas Ltd, a company registered in the Marshall Islands, which was sanctioned by USA on December 03, 2024 for its activities in the oil sector of the Iranian economy. On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker. According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 16, 2025, the vessel's registered name is YURI, and the flag is designated as "Eswatini False". At the same time, the vessel sails under the name COBA, the flag of Curacao.

The tanker (VLCC class) is engaged in the illegal transportation of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of sanctioned Iranian oil on behalf of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil, and the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by USA in late 2019 for violating restrictions on the handling and transaction of Iranian oil. Iran relies on an extensive network of tankers and ship management companies in many jurisdictions to transport its oil to consumers, using deceptive tactics (falsification of documentation, manipulation of ship tracking systems, constant changes of names and flags of vessels). The tanker is affiliated with Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd (China), which was sanctioned by USA on December 03, 2024 for its activities in the oil sector of the Iranian economy. On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker. According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 16, 2025, the vessel's flag is unknown. At the same time, the vessel sails under the flag of Panama.