Shadow Fleet

The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is actively involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Black and Baltic seas (Tuapse, Novorossiysk (in particular, from the Sheskharis terminal - a transshipment complex, which is the end point of the main pipelines of JSC Chernomortransneft (TIN 2315072242, under USA sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Transneft (TIN 7706061801), Primorsk), including active and prolonged dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea, near Cyprus.
In 2024, a tanker under the command of captains Delara Nel (Maltese nationality) and Nikitopoulos Nikolaos (Greek nationality) transported russian petroleum products from the port of Tuapse to Turkey.
In 2024, the tanker was involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the "Sheshkharis" terminal at the port of Novorossiysk to Turkey in the interests of PJSC "Gazprom" and PJSC "Lukoil," and from the port of Tuapse to Turkey in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
In 2025, the vessel was involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the port of Primorsk to Libya.
In September 2025, the tanker transported nearly 35,000 tons of russian-origin petroleum products from the Sheskharis terminal in the port of Novorossiysk to Turkey.

The tanker, during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products from russian ports.
In particular, in June 2024, the tanker transported russian petroleum products from the port of Tuapse to Turkey in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft." In August 2024, the vessel transported russian petroleum products from the port of Tuapse to the port of Benghazi (Libya) in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft." In September 2024, the tanker transported russian petroleum products from the port of Ust-Luga to Indonesia (Karimun) on behalf of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft."
The vessel is also involved in the transportation of iranian oil and petroleum products.

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.

The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средневолжская судоходная компания"), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions and acts as a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth RUB 94.4 million within the russian state procurement system. Rosnefteflot JSC is part of the group of the sanctioned russian state-owned company Rosneft Oil Company PJSC (ПАО "НК "Роснефть"), one of the largest oil producers in the world.
The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC include chartering tanker vessels for Rosneft PJSC, and organizing river transportation within the Volga-Don, Azov-Don, Volga, and Volga-Baltic basins.
The fleet of the vessel’s owner includes other sanctioned vessels.
Since May 2023, the tanker has been consistently engaged in dark activity near the Kerch Strait, in the Black Sea and Azov Sea, including the area between Mariupol and Yeysk.
In August 2024, the tanker bunkered the sanctioned vessel IMO 9903877 in the Kerch Strait area of the Azov Sea, as well as the vessel IMO 9224441, which is affiliated with the sanctioned russian company Sovcomflot PJSC (ПАО "Совкомфлот")—the largest state-owned shipping company in russia specializing in offshore hydrocarbon support and the transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas. Its vessels are primarily chartered by major russian oil and gas companies and traders.
Also in August 2024, the tanker bunkered the vessels IMO 9720263 (under U.S. sanctions), IMO 9715270, and IMO 8866321—all participants in schemes involving the theft of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine.
In November 2022, the tanker conducted a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer with tanker IMO 9309576 (under U.S., EU, and Swiss sanctions), which is also affiliated with Sovcomflot PJSC.

During the period of the G7+ 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 from russian ports.
The tanker is linked to sanctioned companies Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), and Algae Ship Charter FZCO (UAE), which managed the vessel in 2023-2024.
Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) is considered one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet, which in early 2023 was among the three largest carriers of russian crude oil, together with Radiating World Shipping Services LLC (UAE) and Gatik Ship Management (India), and played a significant role in the export of the russian crude oil to countries around the world during the period of sanctions restrictions. Fractal Marine DMCC managed a fleet of 28 tankers as an intermediary between shipowners and charterers.
Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), and Algae Ship Charter FZCO (UAE) are part of a shipping empire controlled by the sanctioned Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran's supreme leader. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani uses his father's political influence to corrupt top-level officials in the Iranian regime in order to build and operate a huge fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports crude oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profits. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping empire consists of a vast fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in profits from the global sale of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, mostly to buyers in the PRC. The shipping empire takes significant measures to conceal its operations and obscure its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
Fractal Marine DMCC has played an important role in the management and operation of the tanker and container ship fleet of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping network. Algae Ship Charter FZCO and Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE) provide operational services for Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping network fleet.
Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ provided technical management of the vessel IMO 9308065, which was involved in an incident in the Baltic Sea due to technical malfunctions. On January 10, 2025, the vessel IMO 9308065, loaded with russian oil (99 thousand tons) in the port of Ust-Luga, lost control in the Baltic Sea. According to the German Havariekommando, the vessel's power supply system and engine failed, it lost its ability to maneuver and began to drift at low speed in the open sea near the island of Rügen. This incident once again demonstrates the growing threat of oil spills by outdated shadow fleet vessels.

Tanker during the period of the G7 oil embargo, EU, price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas, including on behalf of PJSC Surgutneftegaz and PJSC Tatneft.
The tanker is affiliated with sanctioned companies FRACTAL MARINE DMCC (UAE), TARABYA LOGISTICS LTD (UAE), and WANTA SHIPPING L.L.C-FZ (UAE), which managed the vessel from December 2022 to December 2024. These companies are part of the shipping empire of Iranian oil magnate and major arms supplier to russia Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, former Iranian defense minister and chief political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping empire consists of a huge fleet of ships, ship management companies, and front companies that generate billions of dollars in profits from sales of Iranian and russian crude oil, petroleum products, and other cargoes to buyers around the world.
In July 2025, the tanker's manager changed again to the Indian company Fleet Tanqo Pvt Ltd (IMO 0261023). As of December 10, 2025, Fleet Tanqo Pvt Ltd operates a fleet of eight oil tankers from Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's shipping network.

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, in particular, through STS transfers near European countries.
In particular, the tanker carried out STS transmissions with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9419448 in July 2024 in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece), which left the russian port of Ust-Luga on June 23, 2024. There are also STS transmissions in the Laconikos Gulf (Greece) with the super tanker 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. The super tanker IMO 9402732 carries out STS transmissions with tankers delivering russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular from russian ports in the Black Sea. Earlier, there were STS transmissions in the Laconikos Gulf with the tanker IMO 9144782 of the shadow fleet built in 1997, which is also involved in the transportation of Iranian oil.
Transshipment of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin by STS method allows to conceal the ownership and origin of the cargo, legalize their supply to EU countries, USA and other countries. In turn, the sale of crude oil/petroleum products on the world market allows accumulating significant financial resources in the state budget of the russian federation, which are used, among other things, to build up the military potential of the aggressor state and to provide material support for russia's military operations on the territory of Ukraine.
The tanker is also involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and petroleum products.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black and Azov Seas, mainly to Turkey and Egypt, and uses deceptive practices (disabling AIS), including in the Kerch Strait area, calls at the port n the TOT of Crimea (the port on the shores of the Kerch Strait, located near the village of Zhukivka, is part of the Kerch ferry service (the line from the port of Crimea to the port of Caucasus), in 2014-2015 the port was dredged, which increased the capacity of the line).
The vessel is owned by the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (under Ukrainian sanctions), which is a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (under at least two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles) within the russian state procurement system. Rosnefteflot JSC is a part of the group of the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, a russian state-owned oil and gas company, one of the world's largest oil producers. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC are, in particular, chartering of the tanker fleet for the benefit of Rosneft, organization of river transportation in the interests of Rosneft in the Volga-Don, Azov-Don, Volga and Volga-Baltic basins.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Azov and Black Seas, mainly to Turkey and Egypt, uses deceptive practices (AIS shutdown, spoofing), including in the Kerch Strait area, calls at the port of Crimea (a port on the shore of the Kerch Strait, located near the village of Zhukovka, is part of the Kerch ferry service (the line from the port of Crimea to the port of Kavkaz), in 2014-2015 the port was dredged, which increased the capacity of the line), the port of Kerch in the TOT of Crimea.
The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (under Ukrainian sanctions), which is a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (at least under two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles) within the russian state procurement system. Rosnefteflot JSC is a part of the group of the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, a russian state-owned oil and gas company, one of the world's largest oil producers. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC are, in particular, the chartering of the tanker fleet for the benefit of Rosneft, organization of river transportation in the interests of Rosneft in the Volga-Don, Azov-Don, Volga and Volga-Baltic basins.
The owner and manager of the vessel is the Maltese company Hai Ocean Shipping Co Ltd, which is associated, in particular, with russian citizen Mikhail Slobodov as one of the two owners of the company.