NURKEZ

IMO 9253325
Updated: 13.01.2025
NURKEZ
Vessel name (international according to IMO)
NURKEZ
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
 Transporting russian oil in violation of other restrictions
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
IMO
9253325
MMSI
352002470
Call sign
3E2311
Flag (Current)
Panama
Sanctions
The person in connection with whom sanctions have been applied
Provide additional information
Justification
Vessel information
During the period of the G7 embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from the russian ports of Kozmino, Ust-Luga, Primorsk, mainly to China and India. The gross tonnage of the tanker is 57.68 thousand tons. The vessel is certified by the Korean Register (IACS).
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment.
The oil tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned company Shanghai Future Ship Management Co LTD (China), which for years has been managing illegal shipments of Iranian oil. This company managed the Panamanian-flagged MT Freya, which, together with the Iranian-flagged MT Horse, owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company (a subsidiary of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company), was arrested by Indonesia in January 2021 on suspicion of illegal oil transportation in the country's waters.
The tanker 'NURKEZ' calls at russian ports, which are the leaders among the ports from which russian oil is exported by the shadow fleet - the ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk in the Baltic Sea, Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, delivering oil to the countries that import the most russian crude oil through the shadow fleet - China, India. The tanker is flying the flag of Panama, which, along with Liberia, Gabon, the Cook Islands, and the Marshall Islands, is the leader in the flags under which shadow tankers carrying russian oil are flying.
The shadow fleet, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through heavily trafficked routes through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with automatic identification systems disabled, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs to be borne by the affected coastal countries and/or the international community. The recent incidents off Malaysia only underscore the need for swift action to curb the potentially devastating impact of the growing shadow fleet. 'Shadow' tankers have already been involved in 50 incidents from the Danish Straits all the way to Malaysia since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to CREA, from January to August 2024, the number of shadow tankers crossing the Danish Straits in Europe increased by 277% compared to the same period in 2022, with 64% of the 46 million tons of russian marine oil transported through the Danish Straits being transported by shadow tankers. In the same period, the number of shadow tankers in the Straits of Dover and Gibraltar increased by 355% compared to 2022, transporting 67% of the 37 million tons of oil through the straits. The Suez Canal experienced a staggering 649% increase in shadow tanker traffic, with 69% of the 52 million tons of russian crude oil passing through it being transported by these vessels.
Thus, russia's 'shadow fleet' continues to generate multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant environmental safety threats with significant economic costs to coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.
On December 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel in connection with the transportation of oil or oil products originating in russia or from russia to a third country.
On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Cases of AIS shutdown
Yes
Calling at russian ports
Yes
Visited ports
Ningbo (PRC), Port Of Sohar (Oman), Yingkou (PRC), Zhoushan (PRC), Port Said (Egypt), Ust-Luga (russia), Suez (Egypt), Chennai (India), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Meishan (PRC), Aoshan Oil Terminal (PRC), Kozmino (russia), Dongjiakou (PRC), Primorsk (russia), Tanjong Pagar (Singapore), Fujairah (UAE), Vadinar Terminal (India), New Mangalore (India), Visakhapatnam (India)
Available additional information
Shipowner (IMO / Country / Date)
Serpens LTD с/о Shanghai Future Ship Management Co LTD (6341477 / PRC / 07.09.2022)
Commercial ship manager (IMO / Country / Date)
Shanghai Future Ship Management Co LTD (6171619 / PRC / 07.01.2022)
Ship Safety Management Manager (IMO / Country / Date)
Shanghai Future Ship Management Co LTD (6171619 / PRC / 10.01.2022)
Former ship names
Gold Sun / Ceram Sea
Flags (former)
Liberia / Singapore
Build year
2004
Builder (country)
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (South Korea)
War & Sanctions 2025