Marine vessels

The tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports to third countries since August 2024 during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian oil/petroleum products, including with the disabling of AIS near russian ports in the Black Sea. In March 2025, the tanker called at the Sheskaris terminal (Novorossiysk port), which is a transshipment complex, the end point of the main pipelines of Chernomortransneft JSC (TIN 2315072242, under USA sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian Transneft PJSC (TIN 7706061801). The tanker is affiliated with the technical manager of Cougar Nautic Inc (Panama), whose fleet, in addition to the tanker IMO 9327396, includes seven oil tankers flying the Liberian flag, including the tanker IMO 9297369, involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports to third countries, and engaged in dark activities in the area of the russian port of Ust-Luga, the master of which is sanctioned by Ukraine. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the tanker IMO 9327396.

The tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products since November 2024 during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products. In February 2025, in the area near the port of Said (Egypt), a tanker, having left the port of CPC Terminal (russia), but having previously conducted dark activities near the russian port of Novorossiysk, made an STS transmission with the tanker IMO 9207027, which is considered part of the shadow fleet of the russian federation, the safety management of which is carried out by Bstls Shipping LLC (IMO 6507554, Azerbaijan), whose fleet includes the tanker IMO 9262924 (under UK sanctions) involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker IMO 9227443 involved in the transportation of russian and Iranian crude oil/petroleum products. In April 2025, in the area near the port of Said (Egypt), the tanker, having left the area near the russian port of Novorossiysk, where the vessel was with AIS turned off, made an STS transmission with tanker IMO 9249312, which was classified by the International NGO Greenpeace as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment, affiliated with the technical manager of Vista Vvave Shipmanagement LLC (Azerbaijan), whose fleet includes the tanker IMO 9380673, involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products since June 2024 from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including the use of deceptive practices, whose captain has been sanctioned by Ukraine. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the tanker IMO 9399480.

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.

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 since December 2023 in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Pacific region, in the Baltic Sea to third countries, and has been involved in dark activities in the Baltic Sea near the russian ports of Vistino and Ust-Luga, and STS transfers near Malta. In 2024, a tanker under the command of Captain Suo Zhenguo (Chinese nationality) transported russian petroleum products from the port of Ust-Luga to the UAE. Since November 2023, the tanker's owner and managers have been changed to Chinese companies.

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.

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 August 2023, after the introduction of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been actively involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including using deceptive, high-risk practices. The vessel is engaged in shadow activities, STS transmissions, in particular in the vicinity of russian ports in the Black Sea. In November 2023, an STS transfer took place near Greece with the tanker IMO 9334557, 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 under Western sanctions. There is also an STS transmission with the tanker IMO 9384095, affiliated with MRK Shipmanagement SRL (Moldova) and Tidal Tech Mariners LLC (Azerbaijan), which are among dozens of companies from Moldova and Azerbaijan involved in the management of the fleet of wet cargo tankers of russian origin, which played a significant role in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions. The tanker is affiliated with the Moldovan company BPC Shipmanagement SRL, which became the commercial and technical manager of the vessel in May 2023, while in May 2023 the owner of the vessel became Blue Sea Navigation Ltd (IMO 6390405), 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 involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products. Since April 2024, commercial management has been transferred to the company-owner, technical management - to Vvave Minder Shipmanagement (Azerbaijan) since August 2024, Tidal Tech Mariners LLC (Azerbaijan) since February 2025, while the company-owner has not changed, which may indicate the unchanged beneficiary of the vessel. After the change of management, the tanker continues to call at russian ports with oil terminals.

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 tanker, over 50 years old, has been implicated in servicing (bunkering) vessels with russian affiliation engaged in grain theft schemes involving the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine, as well as tankers of the russian shadow fleet, particularly in the Kerch Strait area, including through deceptive shipping practices such as disabling the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and conducting dark activity in the Kerch Strait. In September 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, it bunkered the vessel IMO 9720263, which sails under the russian flag, is subject to U.S. sanctions, and has been involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) to the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, Syria, and Yemen, with AIS switched off in line with a common pattern for concealing port calls to Ukrainian ports in TOT Ukraine. In August 2024, the tanker IMO 9224441 — affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot (ПАО "Совкомфлот"), the largest state-owned shipping company in russia engaged in servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, whose main charterers are russia’s largest oil and gas companies and traders — was bunkered in the Kerch Strait (for 5 hours). This tanker, in turn, has been involved in exporting russian crude oil to third countries from russian ports, including with AIS disabled, and in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of russian petroleum products in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea for further transport to third countries. In August 2024, it also bunkered the tanker IMO 9242223, considered part of the russian shadow fleet, which had called at a russian port where oil prices were consistently trading above the G7 price cap; this vessel was designated by the U.S. in January 2025. In June 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, it bunkered (for 4 hours) the tanker IMO 9198783, which was designated by the U.S. in January 2025 for its links to a sanctioned russian company operating in russia’s energy sector. The vessel is owned by Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания"), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions and has acted as a supplier within the russian state procurement system to the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles. JSC Rosnefteflot is part of the corporate group of the sanctioned PJSC NK Rosneft (ПАО "НК "Роснефть""), a russian state-owned oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest oil producers. The main activities of JSC Rosnefteflot include, in particular, chartering tanker fleet tonnage in the interests of PJSC NK Rosneft and organizing river transportation for PJSC NK Rosneft in the Volga–Don, Azov–Don, Volga, and Volga–Baltic basins. The fleet of the vessel’s owning company includes other sanctioned vessels.

The vessel is owned by the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания"), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions. Within the russian state procurement system, it has acted as a supplier to the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles. JSC Rosnefteflot is part of the group of the sanctioned russian PJSC NK Rosneft (НК "Роснефть") – a russian state-owned oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest oil producers. The main activities of JSC Rosnefteflot include, in particular, chartering tanker fleet vessels in the interests of PJSC NK Rosneft, and organizing river transportation for PJSC NK Rosneft in the Volga–Don, Azov–Don, Volga, and Volga–Baltic basins. The fleet of the vessel’s owner includes other sanctioned vessels. The vessel has been implicated in bunkering operations in the Kerch Strait area for the tanker IMO 9842176, which is under U.S. sanctions and affiliated with the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot, part of the group of the sanctioned PJSC NK Rosneft. The tanker IMO 9842176 has been involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, primarily to India.

The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания") – a designated entity under Ukrainian sanctions – which, within the framework of the russian state procurement system, has served as a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth a total of 94.4 million rubles. Rosnefteflot JSC is part of the corporate group of the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (ПАО "НК "Роснефть""), a state-owned oil and gas company and one of the largest oil producers in the world. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC include, in particular, chartering tanker tonnage for PJSC Rosneft Oil Company and organising river transportation in the interests of PJSC Rosneft Oil Company in the Volga– Don, Azov– Don, Volga and Volga– Baltic basins. The fleet of the vessel’s owning company includes other designated vessels. The tanker has been implicated in bunkering operations in the Kerch Strait area, has made port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Ukraine), and has systematically engaged in dark activity by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS) near russian ports in the Sea of Azov, as well as in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In September 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, the tanker bunkered the vessel IMO 9851127 and also bunkered the tanker IMO 9640554, the latter affiliated with the designated russian company Rosewood Shipping LLC (ООО "Роузвуд Шиппинг").

The vessel is owned by the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания"), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions. Within the russian state procurement system, it has acted as a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth RUB 94.4 million. Rosnefteflot JSC is part of the group controlled by the sanctioned russian Rosneft Oil Company PJSC (ПАО "НК "Роснефть""), a state-owned oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest oil producers. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC include chartering tanker fleet tonnage in favor of Rosneft and organizing river transportation for Rosneft within the Volga– Don, Azov– Don, Volga, and Volga– Baltic basins. The owner’s fleet includes other sanctioned vessels. The tanker engaged in dark activity in the Kerch Strait area in April, May, and June 2023, as well as in November 2024. In November 2022, it conducted a ship-to-ship (STS) cargo transfer with the tanker IMO 9309576, which is under United States, European Union, and Swiss sanctions and is affiliated with the sanctioned russian Sovcomflot PJSC (ПАО "Совкомфлот"). Sovcomflot is the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production and the transportation of russian oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas, with its primary charterers being the largest russian oil and gas companies and traders.