Shadow Fleet

The VLCC class tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Celestite Maritime Inc (Sri Lanka) and Marine Solution Pvt Ltd (Sri Lanka), which are the owner and manager of the tanker, respectively, in connection with their activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Celestite Maritime Inc has an interest.
According to IMO's Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) database, as of July 18, 2025, the vessel's registered name is SHANNON II, the flag of Barbados, at the same time the vessel sails under the name TIMA, the flag of Guyana.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of tens of thousands of metric tons of NIOC fuel oil. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. Petroleum revenues provide the Iranian regime with resources to finance its nuclear program, develop modern drones and missiles, and provide ongoing financial and material support for the terrorist activities of its regional proxies.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Fallon Shipping Company Limited (Seychelles) and Aren Ship Management (Bangladesh), which are the owner and manager of the tanker, respectively, in connection with their activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Fallon Shipping Company Limited has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of millions of barrels of Iranian oil from the port of Changxhing in Dalian (China) on behalf of the Iranian military.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Heshun Transportation Trading Limited (Hong Kong), the owner and operator of the tanker, in connection with the company's activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Hong Kong Heshun Transportation Trading Limited has an interest.

The VLCC class tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9257149. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás 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 under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Neptune Marine Ltd (Marshall Islands) and Huaxia Trading Ltd (China), which are the owner and manager of the tanker, respectively, in connection with their activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Neptune Marine Ltd has an interest.

The VLCC tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil, as well as in the export of russian oil/petroleum products during the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products.
On 13 March 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Turquoise Sea Marine Limited (Seychelles), the owner of the tanker, for its activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. On the same date, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Turquoise Sea Marine Limited has an interest.
Since December 25, 2025, the owner and manager of the large-tonnage tanker has been the russian company Burevestmarin LLC, established in July 2025. The director and sole owner of the company is Ilya Bugay, an entrepreneur from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, Ukraine. The company also became the owner of two other tankers:
MARINERA IMO 9230880 (under US sanctions), detained on January 7, 2026, by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic south of Iceland. The vessel was detained after a two-week pursuit in the Atlantic after it evaded inspection in the Caribbean Sea. As of January 15, 2026, the tanker is under US control and has been delivered to Moray Firth (Scotland, UK);
GALLILEO IMO 9256860 (under US sanctions), detained on January 15, 2026, in the Caribbean Sea as part of Operation Southern Spear by marines and sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on charges of violating the US naval blockade and sanctions against Venezuela, as well as transporting Venezuelan oil.
As of January 15, 2026, the tanker IMO 9153525 last transmitted its coordinates on January 1, 2026, while anchored in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Aruba.

The tanker is engaged in ship-to-ship transfers to transport millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9203277. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás 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 under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Sea Services Providers NV (Suriname), the owner and manager of the tanker, in connection with the company's activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Sea Services Providers NV has an interest.

The VLCC-class tanker has been implicated in the transportation of Iranian crude oil.
On 13 March 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Itaugua Services Inc (Liberia), the owner and manager of the tanker, for its activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On the same date, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Itaugua Services Inc holds an interest.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9183271. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás 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 under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The VLCC class tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil. The tanker was also used in the interests of the russian federation to carry out STS transfers of russian petroleum/petroleum products during the period of the G7+ petroleum embargo and price-cap policy on russian petroleum/petroleum products.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on United Tankers Ltd (Marshall Islands) and Lake View Ship Management Private Limited (India), which are the owner and manager of the tanker, respectively, in connection with their activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which United Tankers Ltd has an interest.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, the VLCC tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products via STS transfers. The tanker is also involved in the transportation of Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil / petroleum products (Jose terminal).
The vessel received crude oil through STS operations from three Aframax tankers in Morocco, two of which are affiliated with the sanctioned company One Moon Marine Services, which ensured the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products through its fleet.
In August 2024, the tanker carried out an STS transfer in the Gwangyang anchorage area (South Korea) with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9301407, affiliated with the sanctioned russian PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas. The main charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. PJSC Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others.
Since February 25, March 4, 2025, the EU and Switzerland respectively have imposed sanctions on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices, as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33) (on July 18, 2025, the EU amended the sanctions).

The tanker is affiliated with the Indian company BSM Marine Limited Liability Partnership, which was sanctioned by USA on February 24, 2025 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction in the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation or marketing of crude oil/petroleum products or petrochemicals from Iran.
On February 24, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on a tanker as on the property in which the sanctioned company BSM Marine Limited Liability Partnership has an interest.

The tanker is affiliated with the Malaysia-based IMS Ltd, which was sanctioned by the United States on 24 February 2025 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction involving the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation, or marketing of crude oil, petroleum products, or petrochemicals from Iran.
On the same date, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which the sanctioned company IMS Ltd has an interest.

The tanker has been implicated in activities of Malaysia-based IMS Ltd (IMS Ltd), which was sanctioned by the United States on February 24, 2025, for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction involving the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation, or marketing of crude oil/petroleum products or petrochemicals from Iran.
On February 24, 2025, the United States also imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which the sanctioned company IMS Ltd has an interest.