CERES I

IMO 9229439
Updated: 17.12.2024
CERES I
Vessel name (international according to IMO)
CERES I
Category
Transportation of fossil fuels
 Transportation of Iranian oil
Vessel Type
Crude Oil Tanker
IMO
9229439
MMSI
668116233
Call sign
S9U4
Flag (Current)
Sao Tome and Principe
Sanctions
The person in connection with whom sanctions have been applied
Provide additional information
Justification
Vessel information
The tanker has been involved in the transportation of Iranian oil since at least 2021, STS transfers of Iranian oil. In particular, in January 2024, near Singapore, CERES I transferred almost 300,000 metric tons of Iranian oil from ship to ship in the interests of the sanctioned Jazira Das International Products Trading LLC (UAE), China Concord Petroleum Company (CCPC) and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. NIOC's oil deals, including those of its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah. Jazira Das International Products Trading LLC is a UAE-registered company involved in falsifying documents to 'disguise' barrels of Iranian oil from the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) as Emirati oil, coordinating many NIOC oil shipments to the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company to transport millions of barrels of oil, and concealing NIOC's involvement in the supply.
According to the American human rights group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic using satellite data, the vessel is involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil and/or petroleum products and has been included in the UANI's 'Ghost Armada' list since April 2021.
Also, the tanker CERES I was included by UANI in the list of tankers of the Maduro-Khamenei Oil Alliance involved in the transportation of Iranian and Venezuelan oil. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have been developing: in 2023, Iran supplied more than 12 million barrels of crude oil and gas condensate, and Venezuela supplied about the same amount of fuel oil to Iran in return. Most of the cargo is transported by vessels of the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions: Iranian oil and gas are unloaded in Venezuelan ports, and the same NITC tankers load Venezuelan fuel oil on the way back to China. A significant number of non-NITC vessels flying foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in the trade.
Also, according to UANI, the CERES I tanker is one of 16 oil tankers that have switched from Iranian oil to russian oil as of July 2022.
In July 2024, the CERES I tanker was involved in a collision with another oil tanker, causing an oil spill in international waters near Malaysia. During the collision, the CERES I's tracking signals did not correspond to its position, which prevented it from communicating with the other vessel.
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Cases of AIS shutdown
Yes
Calling at russian ports
Unknown
Visited ports
Zhoushan (PRC), Aoshan Oil Terminal (PRC), Tanjong Pagar (Singapore), Tanjung Pengeli (Malaysia)
Available additional information
Shipowner (IMO / Country / Date)
Ceres Shipping LTD-HKG (6126330 / Hong Kong / 01.11.2019)
Commercial ship manager (IMO / Country / Date)
Ceres Shipping LTD-HKG (6126330 / Hong Kong / 10.02.2021)
Ship Safety Management Manager (IMO / Country / Date)
Blueshark Shipping PTE LTD (6204587 / Singapore / 26.09.2023)
Former ship names
Affluence / Pacific Alfa / Pacific Glory / Mogamigawa / Affluence / Pacific Alfa / Pacific Glory / Mogamigawa
Flags (former)
Honduras / Panama / Liberia / Marshall Islands / Japan / Honduras / Panama / Liberia / Marshall Islands / Japan
Build year
2001
Builder (country)
Saijo Dockyard (Japan)
War & Sanctions 2025