SOFIA K

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, has been involved in the established chain of supply of russian crude oil/petroleum products to third countries since 2024 by providing STS transfers in the area near European countries, near the Egyptian port of Said, in particular, with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9247443, which since July 2024 has been acting as a transshipment STS hub for russian crude oil/petroleum products transported by tankers mainly from the russian ports of Tuapse, Novorossiysk, Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex for transshipment near European countries. Prior to that, the tanker made direct calls to russian ports with oil terminals (Tuapse, Primorsk), after which it proceeded to the transshipment area in the Gulf of Laconikos.
In February 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of gasoil (over 54 thousand tons) from the russian port of Tuapse, where the production complex belonging to the sanctioned Rosneft PJSC - Tuapse Oil Refinery with a sea terminal - is located. The shipper of the cargo was the sanctioned russian Rosneft, and the recipient was Bellatrix Energy Limited (Hong Kong), which was sanctioned by USA in December 2023 for significant participation in the trade of russian crude oil/petroleum products after the implementation of the price cap policy.
On September 03, 16, 22, 10, 19 October, and November 09, 2024, in the area near Greece, the tanker made an STS transmission with the tanker IMO 9247443, which had previously made a number of STS transmissions in the Greek area, Cyprus with tankers (some of which are affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions), which came for transshipment from russian ports. After a series of STS transmissions with tanker IMO 9247443, tanker IMO 9299123 called at the Egyptian port of El-Dekheila.
On February 08, 2025, in the area south of Cyprus, the tanker made an STS transmission with tanker IMO 9374416, which left the russian port of Novorossiysk in January. After that, the tanker IMO 9299123 proceeded to the area near the port of Said (Egypt), where on February 11, 2025, it made an STS transfer with the tanker IMO 9247443. Then the tanker IMO 9299123 called at the Egyptian port, the tanker IMO 9247443 returned to the area near Cyprus to make further STS transfers of wet cargo with russian affiliation.
The tanker IMO 9299123 is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions, and the company Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, which is related to Gatik, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping, Orion Ship Management, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to "juggle" vessels managed by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment were the previous managers of the vessel. Tankers operated/managed by India's Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports.
As of April 11, 2025, the tanker's commercial manager is the Indian company Chenab Ship Management, the fleet of which also includes the sanctioned tanker IMO 9289752, which is considered part of the shadow fleet, affiliated with the Indian company Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, associated with the shadow operator Gatik Ship Management, and involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas.
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, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country.