SAATHI

In August-September 2024, the tanker carried out STS transfers of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the tanker SAMUDRA (formerly GOLDEN MILE, IMO 9337901), which departed from the russian port of Tuapse. The tanker SAMUDRA is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called “shadow” fleet involved in the transportation of russian oil/oil products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions. In November 2024, an STS transmission was made from the sanctioned IMO tanker 9281891 (involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian and russian oil), which left the port of Taman. There were also STS transfers with russian oil from the sanctioned tankers IMO 9315446 and IMO 9271951. At the same time, there are frequent STS transfers of russian oil from the tanker IMO 9294123. In particular, such transfers in the Laconian Gulf took place on January 10, 2025, and in early February 2025. The tanker CHONGCHON sailed to the Laconian Gulf from the russian port of Novorossiysk. The tanker CHONGCHON is affiliated with Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, which, together with other companies (Galena Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Orion Ship Management LLP, Nautilus Shipping, Zidan Ship Management) was involved in a scheme to “juggle” ships from the Indian company Gatik. Also, in December 2024, the SAATHI tanker bunkered with the oil product tanker ASCENDANT (IMO 9248801), affiliated with Gatik, in the Laconian Gulf.
The tanker SAATHI is also affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and the Gatik-related company Gaurik Ship Management, which in 2023, together with Galena Ship Management LLP, Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Orion Ship Management LLP, Nautilus Shipping (India), Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to “juggle” vessels managed by Gatik Ship Management in order to avoid sanctions.
Gatik Ship Management and Galena Ship Management were the previous managers of the tanker.
Tankers operated/managed by the Indian Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports.
Since the beginning of the sanctions against the oil sector of the russian federation, the tanker SAATHI has had two changes of commercial manager, three changes of ISM manager, two changes of ship name, and three changes of flag country. The vessel is certified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IACS).
The shadow fleet of the russian federation continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, masking its activities under “convenient” flags, using complex ownership and management schemes to conceal the real owners, resorting to deceptive, high-risk practices, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries due to the obsolescence and improper maintenance of ships.