CHONGCHON

The tanker is engaged in transportation of russian oil products to third countries and has repeatedly delivered shipments of russian oil products to the transshipment point in the Gulf of Lakonikos (Greece). The vessel is actively using deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS near Greece, Malta, in the Kerch Strait area).
The tanker CHONGCHON is affiliated with Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, which is linked to India's Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called “shadow” fleet, which played a key role in the transportation of russian oil under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC along with a number of other companies, namely Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Orion Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping (India), Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to “juggle” vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions.