KOALA

During the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products and is actively engaged in shady activities in the Kerch Strait area.
The international non-governmental organization Greenpeace classifies the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. The tanker is linked to an incident that threatens environmental safety in the Gulf of Finland and poses significant risks to coastal countries. In February 2025, explosions occurred in the engine room of the tanker loaded with fuel oil at the port of Ust-Luga. The ship's crew of 24 managed to reach the shore without injury, but as a result of the incident, the ship ran aground with its stern, and the russian Ministry of Emergency Situations set up boom barriers around the ship. The Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport of russia stated that the tanker's cargo holds were not damaged and there was no leakage of oil products.
The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil. Since the start of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 ships that previously helped Iran export oil are now helping russia transport russian crude and petroleum products.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9234642. 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 relations have begun to develop. Most cargoes are transported by vessels of the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of vessels flying foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned Cypriot company Lagosmarine Limited, which was the tanker's manager. In January 2025, the US imposed sanctions on Lagosmarine Limited for its activities in the russian energy sector and as the technical manager of a tanker that transported crude oil and made several calls at a russian port where the price of oil consistently exceeded the price cap.
Since May 21 and June 3, 2025, the EU and Switzerland have imposed sanctions on tankers transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from кussia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192(33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.