DAPHNE V

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, and in high-risk, deceptive practices, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea (disabling AIS, making STS transmissions).
In December 2024 and January 2025, the tanker called at the port of Kamysh-Burun in the TOT of Crimea.
In January 2025, STS transmissions were made in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9252400 (on October 17, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel for illegal supplies of Iranian oil), with the tanker IMO 9224441 (affiliated through related companies with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas), which is involved in high-risk, deceptive practices in the Kerch Strait area and in December 2024 was supposed to receive fuel oil from the Volgoneft-212 tanker that sank in the Kerch Strait due to damage caused by a storm, which led to an environmental disaster, including in the temporarily occupied Crimea, due to a fuel oil spill. STS transmissions with the tanker IMO 9224441 in the Kerch Strait area also took place in December 2024.
The tanker is affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE, under UK sanctions for its involvement in servicing the energy sector of the russian economy). Fractal Marine DMCC is considered to be one of the leading operators of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. The shipping company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) was established shortly before the G7 countries introduced a price-cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products and played a significant role in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products under sanctions restrictions.
The tanker is also affiliated with Macario Shipping LLC (UAE), which fleet participated in the sanctioned trade. As of early March 2025, only the tanker IMO 9282041 remained under the management of Macario Shipping LLC.
Since February 22, 2024, the commercial management of the tanker has been carried out by the Turkish company Westanker Ltd, which is included in the list of 11 “players” in the Turkish segment of the russian shadow fleet management, which together have been managing almost 50 tankers since the beginning of 2024 and helping russia to circumvent the price ceiling regime for russian crude oil/petroleum products. Thus, six oil tankers IMO 9308077, IMO 9321677, IMO 9282508, IMO 9390587, IMO 9413004, IMO 9326885, which were operated by the sanctioned company Fractal Marine DMCC, were transferred to the management of the Turkish company Westanker Ltd on the same day (February 22, 2024). In 2024, all six tankers were actively involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Black sea, Baltic and Arctic regions of Russia.
Since February 2023, the tanker's security has been managed by Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), which also managed 19 other vessels affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC. In particular, on January 10, 2025, the 19-year-old tanker IMO 9308065, safety management of which was provided by Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ, loaded with russian oil (99 thousand tons) in the port of Ust-Luga, lost control in the Baltic Sea. According to the German Havariekommando, the vessel's power supply system and engine failed, the ship lost its ability to maneuver and began to drift at low speed in the open sea near the island of Rügen. This incident once again demonstrates the growing threat of oil spills by outdated shadow fleet vessels.