MILANO

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker was involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products to third countries mainly from the russian ports of Tuapse, Novorossiysk, and the Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex using deceptive practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities). The tanker is also involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products through STS transfers with other tankers, including the shadow fleet of the russian federation, near European countries.
In July 2023, the tanker IMO 9286059 was involved in the export of russian oil products 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 Oil Company, and the recipient was SPG Trading LLC. In August, December 2023, January 2024, the tanker IMO 9286059, ordered by Square Energy DMCC (UAE, founded in May 2023), Foxton FZCO (UAE), was involved in the export of several batches of russian crude oil from the russian port of Tuapse. Square Energy DMCC and Foxton FZCO were also the shippers of the cargo.
Twice in March 2024, after leaving the russian port of Novorossiysk, in the area near Greece, the tanker IMO 9286059 made STS transmissions with the tankers IMO 9664782 and IMO 9823584.
In April 2024, after leaving the russian port of Novorossiysk, near Greece, tanker IMO 9286059 conducted STS transmissions with tanker IMO 9433597.
In May 2024, after leaving the russian port of Novorossiysk, in the area near Malta, tanker IMO 9286059 made an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9747338.
In December 2024, February 2025, after leaving the russian ports of Primorsk and Tuapse, respectively, tanker IMO 9286059 made STS transmissions with tanker IMO 9247443 in the area near Greece. Since July 2024, tanker IMO 9247443 without proper insurance of the International P&I Club has been operating in the area of Greece and Cyprus as a floating transshipment STS hub of russian wet cargo delivered to the area of Greece and 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, one of the leading operators of the so-called "shadow" fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude crude oil/petroleum products in 2022-2023 under Western sanctions.
In March 2025, after leaving the Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex, tanker IMO 9286059 made an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9424651, which is considered part of the russian shadow fleet, and has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions since September 2023, when the tanker was managed by BPC Shipmanagement SRL (Moldova). Since 2023, BPC Shipmanagement SRL, together with a number of other Moldovan companies (Adel Ship Management SRL, MRK Shipmanagement SRL, KSN Shipmanagement SRL, OST Shipmanagement SRL, Surt Ship Management SRL, SAL Shipmanagement SRL, FLC Shipmanagement SRL), has been involved in the creation of a part of the shadow fleet for the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions. Since 2024, these Moldovan companies have transferred the management of dozens of tankers to companies from Azerbaijan (Dream Island Shipping LLC, Ocean Voyage LLC, Tidal Tech Mariners LLC, Seafaring Savants LLC, VVave Minder Shipmanagement, Triton Technical Services LLC, Navigenix Shipmanagement LLC, Nautilus Fleet Management LLC, Harbor Harmony Shipmanagement, and others). After the transfer of management to companies from Azerbaijan, the tankers continue to transport russian crude oil/petroleum products.
Transshipment of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin at sea using the STS method 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.
The tanker made calls at russian ports with oil terminals before russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, then after Western restrictions on russian crude oil/petroleum products were imposed - from March 2023, it was in March 2023 that the tanker was owned by Olive Trading SA (IMO 6386014), registered in Liberia, and managed by the Greek company IMS SA, whose fleet as of April 30, 2025, includes 27 oil tankers, some of which are involved in maritime trade in russian crude oil/petroleum products. IMS SA is a well-known ship management company specializing in the operation and management of product/chemical tankers.