TAGOR

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from the russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea to third countries, and resorts to the practice of conducting 'dark' activities in the Baltic Sea with the AIS signal turned off. The vessel is certified by Lloyd's Register (IACS).
The vessel is affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE, under UK sanctions), one of the leading operators of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the export of russian oil/oil products in 2022-2023.
The shipping company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) was established by former Socar CEO Mathieu Philippe as a subsidiary of the Swiss Fractal Shipping SA shortly before the G7 countries introduced a price-cap policy on russian oil after russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and played a significant role in the transportation of russian oil.
On February 22, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Fractal Marine DMCC in connection with its involvement in servicing the russian energy sector. Fractal Marine DMCC operated a fleet of 28 tankers as an intermediary between ship owners and charterers.
Fractal Marine DMCC, together with Gatik Ship Management (India) and Radiating World Shipping Services LLC (UAE, under UK sanctions), are considered the leading operators of the russian shadow fleet, which in early 2023 assembled a fleet of about 90 tankers, 90% of which transported russian oil/oil products from the Baltic and black sea ports of russia to India, China, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and South America. In less than a year, the $2 billion fleet of oil tankers assembled by Fractal and Gatik could transport more than 40 million barrels of oil/oil products. India, UAE - the jurisdictions of the leading shadow fleet operators Fractal Marine DMCC, Gatik Ship Management and Radiating World Shipping Services LLC, have not joined the price-cap policy and do not apply restrictions to russian oil. Fractal Marine DMCC, Gatik Ship Management and Radiating World Shipping Services LLC in the tanker market helped russian oil to continue circulating around the world and the russian government to provide multibillion-dollar revenues bypassing the sanctions.
After Fractal Marine was sanctioned, DMCC tried to challenge the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom but failed in court. After that, the company 're-signed' its fleet to other companies established, in particular, in the UAE. Thus, 5 tankers previously managed by Fractal Marine DMCC - BRIONT (IMO 9252955), TAGOR (IMO 9282481), CHARMINAR (IMO 9318022), ANTARES I (IMO 9382073), ETHERA (IMO 9387279) - were transferred to the management of Algae Ship Charter FZCO, based in the UAE. These vessels, managed by Algae Ship Charter FZCO, continue to export russian oil/oil products from the russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea.
Against the backdrop of sanctions, russia is using a scheme of 'juggling' shadow fleet vessels between related companies to conceal oil exports beyond the restrictions, the real owners of the vessels, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels, and is creating new companies (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. There is a constant change of ship management, renaming of vessels with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign. Shadow fleet vessels operate under 'convenient flags', which allows them to conceal their true origin and avoid control by international organizations and insurance companies.
The outdated shadow fleet, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with the AIS system turned off, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs.
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. During 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.
The shadow tanker fleet continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, poses significant environmental safety hazards with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.

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Map Ta Phut (Thailand), Ningbo (PRC), Perama (Greece), Ras Sudr (Egypt), Port Said (Egypt), Ust-Luga (russia), Suez (Egypt), Khor al Fakkan (UAE), Primorsk (russia), Vene-Balti (Estonia), Skaw (Denmark), Jamnagar Terminal (India), Ain Sukhna Oil Field Term. (Egypt), Dung Quat (Vietnam), King Fahd (Saudi Arabia)