Shadow Fleet

The tanker, during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, was involved in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products from russian Black Sea ports in 2023.
The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), founded in late 2022.
Shortly before the price cap policy took effect, Hennesea Holdings Limited acquired old tankers that were used to transport russian crude oil and petroleum products under sanctions.
In January 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on vessels affiliated with beneficiaries of the sanctioned shipping company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), which is involved in the maritime sector of the russian economy.
As of July 2025, the vessel had been anchored for an extended period near the port of Said (Egypt).
On September 12, 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.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Venezuelan oil.
In October 2025, the vessel loaded oil in Venezuela. The tanker uses deceptive shipping practices to conceal its location — either by not transmiting its location or by transmitting a false location.
On December 11, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Venezuelan oil.
In June 2025, the vessel loaded and delivered Venezuelan oil to Asia. The tanker manipulated its AIS to conceal its location and cargo of Venezuelan oil.
On December 11, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The vessel is involved in bunkering sanctioned tankers belonging to russia’s shadow fleet, which facilitate the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products, particularly from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas.
The tanker is affiliated with PJSC "Lukoil" through its subsidiary, Lukoil-Bunker LLC (currently in liquidation; its legal successor is Lukoil-Marinebunker LLC (TIN 9705083098)).
The main activities of Lukoil-Marinebunker LLC include the sale of petroleum products (marine fuels), including through transshipment, bunkering, blending, and the wholesale trade in fuels and lubricants. The company owns oil tankers designed to transport petroleum products and perform loading and unloading operations (bunkering, transshipment). For day-to-day operation and maintenance, the vessels have been transferred to a separate specialized organization, Sea Engineering LLC (TIN 7804180500), under bareboat charter agreements.
As of early September 2026, Lukoil-Marinebunkers LLC is sanctioned by the EU, and Sea Engineering LLC is sanctioned by the EU and Switzerland.
Since May 21, 2025, the European Union has imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting 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.

A tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil.
The vessel 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.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The VLCC tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian, Venezuelan, and russian crude oil.
In particular, the vessel is involved in STS transshipments from tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian or Venezuelan crude oil at anchorages near Malaysia and China.
The tanker was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent approximately $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for high-risk transportation of russian crude oil in the Atlantic Ocean. Among these 13 tankers are seven VLCC vessels, five Aframax vessels, and one Suezmax vessel. The vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interrelated one-ship shell companies from Hong Kong and China.
Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were involved in transshipment of wet cargoes in international waters, in areas 860 nautical miles west of Portugal.
The registered owners, commercial managers, and technical managers of this group of tankers have almost identical registration addresses in Dalian (PRC) and two identical addresses in Hong Kong.
This group of tankers is considered a hub for the transshipment of russian crude oil to the PRC in the mid-Atlantic.
Logistical STS hubs allow to hide the ownership and origin of cargo.
The tanker, considered to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by the US on January 10, 2025, for its activities in the russian energy sector.
On January 10, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions as part of restrictions on the russian shadow fleet.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On January 7, 2026, the US military (US Southern Command) intercepted and detained tanker IMO 9289477 in international waters in the Caribbean Sea. At the time of detention, the tanker was fully loaded with approximately 1.8-2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil of the Merey grade. At the time of detention, the tanker was also listed as "stateless" due to its sanctioned status. As of January 10, 2026, the vessel was heading for the US coast under the escort of the US Coast Guard.

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.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black and Azov Seas, mainly to Turkey, using deceptive practices (disabling AIS, spoofing), including in the Kerch Strait, and calls at ports in the TOT of Crimea, in particular, the port of Feodosia.
On January 10, 2025, 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).
On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

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.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Vessel is affiliated with the beneficiaries of the sanctioned shipping company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), founded in late 2022, operating in the maritime sector of the russian economy. Shortly before the entry into force of the price-cap policy, Hennesea acquired old tankers transporting russian crude oil and oil products and entering russian ports.
In January 2024, USA imposed sanctions to vessels affiliated with the beneficiaries of Hennesea.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Affiliated with the beneficiaries of the sanctioned shipping company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), founded in late 2022, operating in the maritime sector of the russian economy. Shortly before the entry into force of the price-cap policy, Hennesea acquired old tankers transporting russian crude oil and oil products and entering russian ports.
In January 2024, USA imposed sanctions to vessels affiliated with the beneficiaries of Hennesea.
According to GISIS IMO, as of early July 2025, the vessel's flag is marked as "Guinea False".
In 2025, the tanker is involved in commodity transportation in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia area without port calls.
The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and petroleum products.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In 2026, the tanker calls at russian ports in the Pacific region.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. In September 2025, the vessel transported more than 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9294240. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On October 9, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.