SEA MAVERICK

Since March 2023, after the introduction of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been actively involved in the export of russian oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including using deceptive, high-risk practices.
The vessel resorts to conducting shadow activities, STS transmissions, in particular, in the area of the Kerch Strait, Russian ports in the Black Sea.
In March 2025, an STS transfer took place in the Kerch Strait area with the tanker IMO 9224441, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, russia's largest state-owned shipping company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas. The major charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. PJSC Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others.
In January 2025, an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9252448 took place near the port of Malacca (Malaysia), and tanker IMO 9265885 arrived in the Malacca port area from the russian port of Novorossiysk.
On December 31, 2024, an STS transfer took place near the russian port of Gelendzhik with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9299666, affiliated with the Indian company Caishan Ship Management, which is associated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called 'shadow' fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil under Western sanctions.
The tanker is affiliated with the Moldovan company MRK Shipmanagement SRL, which became the technical manager of the vessel in March 2023, while in February 2023 Prime Choice Navigation Ltd (IMO 6386805) became the owner and commercial manager of the tanker, registered in the Seychelles at Suite 10, 3rd Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles, which is widely used for registration of shipping companies involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products. Since August 2024, the technical management has been transferred to Voyage Guard Shipmanagement (Azerbaijan), while the owner/commercial manager has not changed.
After the change of management, the tanker continues to call at russian ports with oil terminals.
On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since October 24, 2025, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Switzerland has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
The tanker is likely involved in facilitating the export of sanctioned Venezuelan oil by delivering petroleum products from russia to Venezuela, which allow Venezuelan heavy crude oil to be diluted.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.