GARUDA

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is systematically involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Black Sea, and engages in deceptive, high-risk practices, including conducting dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea, in the Kerch Strait, and STS transmissions with russian affiliations near European countries.
The tanker calls at the ports of the TOT Crimea of Ukraine.
In May 2025, the vessel called at the Sheskharis terminal (Novorossiysk), which is a transshipment complex, the end point of the main pipelines of Chernomortransneft JSC (TIN 2315072242, under USA sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian Transneft PJSC (TIN 7706061801).
In March 2025, after leaving the Kerch Strait area, where the vessel had been conducting dark activities for two days, the tanker made an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9424651, affiliated with the Moldovan company BPC SHIPMANAGEMENT SRL, which, together with a number of other Moldovan companies, is involved in the creation of part of the shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products.
In February 2025, after leaving the Kerch Strait area, where the vessel was engaged in dark activities, the tanker made an STS transmission with tanker IMO 9247443 in the area near Cyprus. Since July 2024, the tanker IMO 9247443 without proper insurance of the International P&I Club has been operating in the area of Greece, Cyprus as a floating transshipment STS hub of russian wet cargo delivered to the area of Greece, Cyprus for transshipment mainly from the russian ports of Tuapse, Novorossiysk, as well as from the Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex, Primorsk, Ust-Luga. Such deliveries from russian ports for further transshipment via tanker IMO 9247443 in European waters are carried out by a number of tankers, including those affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management. STS transmissions with tanker IMO 9247443 took place near Greece in December 2024, when tanker IMO 9272931 arrived in the Greek area from the russian port of Novorossiysk.
The IMO tanker IMO 9272931 is involved in other STS transmissions with russian affiliation. Transshipment of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin by STS method at sea allows concealing the ownership and origin of the cargo, legalizing their supply to the EU, the USA and other countries. In turn, the sale of crude oil/petroleum products on the world market allows accumulating significant financial resources in the state budget of the russian federation, which are used, among other things, to build up the military potential of the aggressor state and to provide material support for russia's military operations on the territory of Ukraine.
In March and April 2023, the tanker was involved in the export of russian oil products (more than 60 thousand tons) from the russian port of Tuapse, where the production complex belonging to the sanctioned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, the Tuapse Oil Refinery with a sea terminal, is located. The sender of the cargo was the sanctioned russian Rosneft, the recipient was Bellatrix Energy Limited (Hong Kong), which was sanctioned by the United States in December 2023 for significant participation in the trade in russian crude oil/petroleum products after the implementation of the price restriction policy, and Blackford Corporation Limited.
The tanker is affiliated with Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Orion Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to "juggle" vessels operated by 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.