Shadow Fleet

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.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9326055.
In March 2025, the US imposed a 25% tariff on countries importing Venezuelan oil. As part of Operation Southern Spear in December 2025, the US imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering/leaving Venezuelan ports. As part of the blockade, the US detained several tankers off the coast of Venezuela in December 2025 and early January 2026. At the same time, at least 16 tankers left Venezuelan waters in an attempt to avoid the naval blockade by the US Navy. The vessels, most of which were loaded with Venezuelan crude oil/petroleum products, left Venezuelan territorial waters with their AIS signals turned off, falsifying their coordinates to conceal their actual location. Among the 16 tankers, 15 vessels are under sanctions for transporting Iranian and russian crude oil/petroleum products.
According to satellite images, tanker IMO 9326055 was tracked about 30 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The vessel used the name "DS Vector" (IMO 9203289, which was scrapped in 2018) and transmitted a false AIS signal, creating the illusion of its presence near the West African coast. The tanker likely loaded Venezuelan oil in circumvention of US sanctions and left Venezuela's main oil terminal, Puerto Jose, heading northeast.

The tanker has been involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil, in particular to China, since at least 2020. 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.

The tanker is involved in skirting sanctions on oil transportation for Iran.
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker has been involved in the transportation of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil since at least 2022 for the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by USA in late 2019 for violating restrictions on the processing and transaction of Iranian oil, and for engaging in deceptive practices (falsification of identification and location).
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9198317. 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 tanker is affiliated with Vision Ship Management LLP, 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 vessel.

The tanker has been involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil since at least 2022 in the interests 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. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. Oil revenues provide the Iranian regime with the resources to finance its nuclear program, develop advanced drones and missiles, and provide ongoing financial and material support for the terrorist activities of its regional proxies.
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).
The tanker is affiliated with the Indian company Tightship Shipping Management (OPC) Private Limited, 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 as a property in which Tightship Shipping Management (OPC) Private Limited has an interest.

The tanker has been implicated in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian crude oil for the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by the United States in late 2019 for violating restrictions on the processing and transaction of Iranian oil, as well as the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil, and its sanctioned subsidiary Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO). Iran relies on an extensive network of tankers and ship management companies in multiple jurisdictions to transport its oil to consumers, using deceptive tactics (falsifying documentation, manipulating vessel tracking systems, and constantly changing vessel names and flags).
The tanker is affiliated with Ocean Glory Giant OGG SA (Panama), which was sanctioned by the United States on December 3, 2024, for its activities in the oil sector of the Iranian economy.
On December 3, 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Ocean Glory Giant OGG SA has an interest.

The tanker has been involved in the transportation of millions of dollars worth of Iranian oil for the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) since at least 2022.
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Ministry of Oil of Iran. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. The oil deals of NIOC, including its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah (Hezbollah).
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned Indian company Vision Ship Management LLP, which is affiliated with vessels involved in the transportation of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil for the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company since 2022.
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).
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Vision Ship Management LLP has an interest.

In July 2024, the tanker on behalf of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) delivered Iranian fuel oil worth approximately $18.5 million to the UAE, in August 2024, it transported an additional cargo of fuel oil worth approximately $17.5 million to the UAE.
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Ministry of Oil of Iran. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, refine and export oil and natural gas in Iran. The oil deals of NIOC, including its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah (Hezbollah).
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker has been involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil since at least 2022, in particular, it has transported hundreds of thousands of metric tons of Iranian crude oil on behalf of China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by USA in late 2019 for violating restrictions on the handling and transactions with 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 ship names and flags).
Since 2022, the vessel has changed its name, flag country, owner and management several times.
The tanker is certified by the China Classification Society (IACS).
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.
According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 15, the vessel's flag is unknown.

The tanker has been implicated in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil, in particular to China, in the use of deceptive shipping practices, and in conducting dark activities near Malaysia. The vessel transported more than 1.6 million barrels of Iranian condensate to buyers in China on behalf of the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in April 2024. 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 are engaged in the exploration, production, transportation, refining, and export of oil and natural gas in Iran. NIOC’s oil deals, including those of its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Hizballah.
On February 15, 2022, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) identified two crude oil tankers transporting Iranian crude oil via ship-to-ship (STS) transfer, with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off, in the waters east of Singapore: LATIN VENTURE (formerly known as PACIFIC BRAVO, IMO 9206035) and FT ISLAND (formerly known as CCPC VANGUARD, IMO 9166675). On February 17, 2022, the vessel reappeared east of the STS relocation site.
On December 3, 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel.