UGAH CONFIDENCE

In February 2026, the vessel transported a shipment of granular urea from the port of Yeysk to Moldova (the port of Giurgiulesti); shipped by the russian company JSC "Shchekinoazot" (TIN 7118004789, Tula Oblast), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions. JSC "SHCHEKINOAZOT" (Tula Region, russian federation) is a major russian manufacturer of industrial chemicals, producing methanol, caprolactam, sulfuric acid, and ammonium nitrate. The plant’s production facilities manufacture urotropine (hexamethylenetetramine), which is one of the basic components for the production of explosives and solid rocket propellants.
In May 2026, a vessel transported over 5,000 tons of hot-rolled steel in coils (HS Code 7208 38 00, 7208 39 00) from the port of Temryuk to the port of Ereğli (Turkey). The shipper of the cargo was the Turkish company NLMK Turkey Celik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, part of the NLMK Group—a russian steel producer subject to Ukrainian sanctions. In addition, Western sanctions prohibit the direct or indirect import of steel and iron products of russian origin under HS Code 7208 38 00 and 7208 39 00.
The vessel is operated by Sarfo Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS (Turkey), which is affiliated with Raim Alekperov, who is also one of the beneficiaries of Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (Turkey). Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi was registered on December 12, 1996, is based in Istanbul (Turkey), and specializes in the transport of bulk, steel, and general/project cargo. The company operates a fleet of shallow-draft dry cargo ships and tankers, provides operational and technical management of its fleet, and offers agency services in the Bosphorus Strait and major Turkish ports.
Alekperov’s business is closely tied to russia: for many years, vessels from his companies’ fleet have carried out regular cargo shipments between Turkey and russia in the Black Sea.
The vessel FITBURG (IMO 9250397) belongs to the fleet of Alekperov’s companies—Sarfo Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS and Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi. On December 31, 2025, the vessel FITBURG (IMO 9250397) was detained by the Finnish Coast Guard on suspicion of damaging an underwater telecommunications cable belonging to Elisa between Finland and Estonia. According to the investigation, the vessel was moving with its anchor lowered, dragging along the seabed. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation classifies the case as intentional property damage and obstruction of telecommunications. The attorney for the vessel’s owner in the case of the detention of the FITBURG (IMO 9250397) is Herman Ljungberg, who also served as the lawyer for the company that owns the russian shadow fleet tanker EAGLE S, suspected of severing the Estlink 2 cables between Estonia and Finland with its anchor on December 25, 2024. There were 14 crew members on board the FITBURG (IMO 9250397)—citizens of russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. On January 11, 2026, the Helsinki District Court arrested one of the crew members of the FITBURG, and several other sailors were prohibited from leaving Finnish territory.