Marine vessels

The vessel can carry any type of lumber, logs, bulk grain, Class A and Class C cargo, and general cargo, except for cargo classified under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Since December 2023, the vessel has been operating on the St. Petersburg– Kaliningrad route, transporting goods prohibited for rail transit by Lithuania. In June 2024, the vessel made its first call at the closed port of Sevastopol (temporarily occupied territory – TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled, and also called at the port of Feodosiya (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine). In October and December 2024, the vessel was involved in transporting wheat from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region (Ukraine). In January 2025, the vessel was present in Sevastopol Bay and Komyshova Bay with AIS disabled. The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned russian company OJSC Northern Shipping Company (ОАО "Северное морское пароходство", TIN 2901008432), which provides services under state defence contracts for the transportation of goods on behalf of the russian ministry of defence. Since 2014, the company has been an active participant in a major logistics chain for the development of infrastructure in the Arctic under contracts with the russian ministry of defence. OJSC Northern Shipping Company also conducts maritime cargo transportation under contract for the sanctioned State Grain Operator State Unitary Enterprise (ГУП "Государственный зерновой оператор", TIN 9001011019), registered in the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region, Melitopol. In May 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on OJSC Northern Shipping Company and 27 of its vessels, including the vessel IMO 8904379, due to their involvement in the military logistics sector of the russian federation, transporting tanks and other military equipment for the russian armed forces.

In January and April 2024, the vessel is involved in the theft of grain from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region, and its transportation to Egypt and Turkey. The vessel is affiliated with the russian sanctioned company OJSC Northern Shipping Company (TIN 2901008432). The company provides services under state defense contracts for the transportation of goods in the interests of the russian ministry of defense. Since 2014, the company has become an active participant in a large logistics chain for the construction of infrastructure in the Arctic commissioned by the russian ministry of defense. OJSC Northern Shipping Company carries out sea transportation of goods on a contractual basis for the sanctioned State Grain Operator (TIN 9001011019), registered in the TOT of Zaporizhzhya region, Melitopol. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on 27 vessels of the russian Northern shipping company, including the vessel ІМО 9210359, and the company itself due to their involvement in the military logistics sector of the russian federation, transporting tanks and other military equipment for the russian armed forces.

The vessel operates along the Northern Sea Route and is involved in the transportation of construction materials, vehicles and containers for the Barents Sea settlements. In February, March and April 2024, the vessel was involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. The vessel is affiliated with the russian sanctioned company OJSC Northern Shipping Company (TIN 2901008432). The company provides services under state defense contracts for the transportation of goods in the interests of the russian ministry of defense. Since 2014, the company has become an active participant in a large logistics chain for the construction of infrastructure in the Arctic commissioned by the russian ministry of defense. OJSC Northern Shipping Company carries out sea transportation of goods on a contractual basis for the sanctioned State Grain Operator (TIN 9001011019), registered in the TOT of Zaporizhzhya region, Melitopol. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on 27 vessels of the russian OJSC Northern shipping company, including the vessel IMO 9250385, and the company itself due to their involvement in the military logistics sector of the russian federation, transporting tanks and other military equipment for the russian armed forces.

The vessel transports bulky, bulk, containerised and heavy cargo, sails along the Northern Sea Route, and delivers export cargo from the ports of St Petersburg and Arkhangelsk. The vessel is involved in schemes of stealing Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine, in particular from the temporarily occupied port of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia region in January, March-May 2024. The vessel is affiliated with the russian sanctioned company OJSC Northern Shipping Company (TIN 2901008432). The company provides services under state defense contracts for the transportation of goods in the interests of the russian ministry of defense. Since 2014, the company has become an active participant in a large logistics chain for the construction of infrastructure in the Arctic commissioned by the russian ministry of defense. OJSC Northern Shipping Company carries out sea transportation of goods on a contractual basis for the sanctioned State Grain Operator (TIN 9001011019), registered in the TOT of Zaporizhzhya region, Melitopol. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on 27 vessels of the russian OJSC Northern shipping company, including the vessel ІМО 9398046, and the company itself due to their involvement in the military logistics sector of the russian federation, transporting tanks and other military equipment for the russian armed forces.

The company transports bulky, bulk, containerised and heavy cargo, and since October 2022 has been delivering cargo to Kaliningrad, the transit of which has been banned by Lithuania. The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (Feodosia, Komysh-Burun, the port of Crimea, Sevastopol, Berdiansk) and is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain, in particular from the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region, the port of Berdiansk. The vessel is affiliated with the russian sanctioned company OJSC Northern Shipping Company (TIN 2901008432). The company provides services under state defense contracts for the transportation of goods in the interests of the russian ministry of defense. Since 2014, the company has become an active participant in a large logistics chain for the construction of infrastructure in the Arctic commissioned by the russian ministry of defense. OJSC Northern Shipping Company carries out sea transportation of goods on a contractual basis for the sanctioned State Grain Operator (TIN 9001011019), registered in the TOT of Zaporizhzhya region, Melitopol. OJSC Northern Shipping Company is one of the largest shipping companies in northwestern russia, engaged in maritime transportation around the world, including the Northern Sea Route. The company's fleet consists of versatile dry bulk carriers that transport all types of cargo, including radioactive and dangerous goods. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on 27 vessels of the russian OJSC Northern shipping company, including the vessel ІМО 9376440, and the company itself due to their involvement in the military logistics sector of the russian federation, transporting tanks and other military equipment for the russian armed forces. On June 25, 2025, the vessel sailed to Komyshovaya Bay (Sevastopol port).

The vessel has been implicated in the export of grain from Port Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) to Venezuela with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled. Since 20 May 2024, it has remained in the anchorage area of Port Puerto Cabello with AIS enabled but was likely denied docking due to its inclusion in the European Union’s 14th sanctions package. The vessel is owned by the designated russian transport company TK Northern Project LLC (ООО "ТК Северный проект"), which specialises in maritime freight transport via the Northern Sea Route, provides year-round cargo delivery to ports in the Far North and along the Arctic coast, facilitates cargo flows to Europe and Asia, and operates an unrestricted-navigation dry cargo fleet with a deadweight capacity of 7,000–12,000 tons. The company transports general, groupage, mixed, and oversized cargoes, special machinery, equipment, and containerised goods, and holds a licence for the carriage of dangerous goods of all categories. In May 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on TK Northern Project LLC and 15 of its vessels, including vessel IMO 9079169, for transporting weapons to the russian federation on behalf of the company. In June 2024, the European Union imposed sanctions on vessel IMO 9079169 for its role in grain theft schemes involving Ukrainian grain. On 17 October 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel for promoting or supporting actions or policies that undermine or threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (including the transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain), or that harm the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage (including the transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property).

The vessel is involved in stealing Ukrainian grain and exporting it to Syria, Turkey, calls at ports in Ukraine (Komysh-Burun). In April 2022, as part of the restrictions imposed on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia, which provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex, sanctions were imposed on five vessels, including the "SV Konstantin", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is involved in stealing Ukrainian grain and exporting it to Turkey, makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, violating the state borders of Ukraine. In April 2022, USA imposed sanctions on five vessels, including the "SV Nikolay", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC, as part of the restrictions on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia, which provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex. Since 16.12.2022 the vessel has been owned and managed by the russian transport company Riversi Plyus LLC.

The vessel has been implicated in grain theft schemes involving the export of Ukrainian grain from ports in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine while operating with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled. In mid-September 2022, the Syrian-flagged vessel was among the first to export 2,500 tons of Ukrainian grain to Turkey, loaded at the port of temporarily occupied Berdiansk. The vessel regularly calls at ports in the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol, Komysh-Burun), delivering construction mixtures from Turkey. It is also engaged in ilmenite shipments, transporting raw materials from the Turkish port of Ambarli to the Crimean Titan titanium plant, which was seized by russia. The vessel has a documented pattern of frequently changing its name, ownership, and management in order to evade sanctions and continue operations along established smuggling routes. In May 2023, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for facilitating the theft of Ukrainian grain and for the consistent use of AIS disablement to conceal its location and the origin of the transported cargo.

The vessel is involved in numerous cases of stealing Ukrainian grain, transporting scrap metal from the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off to Syria (ports of Latakia, Tartus), port of Tripoli through the Bosporus Strait using the traditional scheme of concealing calls to Ukrainian ports in the TOT of Ukraine. In the theft of Ukrainian grain by the vessel IMO 9385233, there were involved russian companies Agrogreinexport LLC (Moscow, TIN 7734462851, affiliated with the sanctioned Gennadiy Timchenko), Kuban-Forward LLC (Krasnodar, TIN 2308103203). The vessel is affiliated with the Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport. In 2015, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels of the Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport, including the vessel IMO 9385233. On December 17, 2024, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel for facilitating/supporting actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel for facilitating/supporting actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). According to the database of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System of the International Maritime Organization (IMO's GISIS), as of July 23, 2025, the vessel's registered name is MONTE BIANCO, and the flag is listed as "Timor-Leste False". At the same time, the vessel sails under the name BAYAZE D, the flag of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. On June 30, 2025, the US removed sanctions from the ship.

The vessel is involved in numerous cases of theft of Ukrainian grain from the ports of Feodosia, Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off to Syria, Turkey, Egypt through the Bosphorus strait according to the "traditional" scheme of concealing activities to Ukrainian ports at the TOT of Ukraine, as well as in importing to the port of Sevastopol (TOC Crimea, Ukraine) from Bulgaria ilmenite for the Ukrainian plant "Crimean Titan" captured by russia at the TOT Crimea (Ukraine). In 2015, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels of the Syrian state company Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport, including the "Souria" (current name "San Damian"). On December 16, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective from December 17, 2024) in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). According to GISIS IMO data as of July 15, 2025, the vessel's registered name is SAN DAMIAN, and the flag is designated as "Eswatini False". At the same time, the vessel sails "hiding" under the flag of Eswatini. On June 30, 2025, the US removed sanctions from the ship.

Violating the state borders of Ukraine, the vessel repeatedly entered Ukrainian ports on the TOT of Ukraine (Sevastopol, Feodosia) and transported stolen Ukrainian grain. anchorage until 03.08.2023, after which it indicated in AIS the port of destination as the russian Caucasus and headed to the Black Sea. On August 11, 2023, the vessel arrived at Tortuga, an uncontrolled parking lot in the neutral waters of the Black Sea. On August 23, 2023, the vessel turned off AIS and headed for the Crimean coast near occupied Sevastopol. On August 25, 2023, the vessel entered the Sevastopol Bay, moored near the grain terminal of the stevedoring company "Avlita" in Dokov Bay. On August 28, 2023, the vessel left occupied Sevastopol after loading at the Avlita grain terminal. On 31.08.2023, the vessel turned on AIS again, indicating the port of destination Alexandria (Egypt) and changed the status to "loaded". On 09.09.2023, the vessel was waiting at the destination of the port "Alexandria" (Egypt) at parking lot No. А14. In addition, the vessel made a visit to occupied Feodosia in order to load a large batch of sunflower seeds exported from the TOT of the Zaporizhzhia region. The vessel arrived in the Black Sea on October 28, 2023, from the Turkish port of Gulliuk, loaded with feldspar. The vessel went to the port "Novorossiysk" where it unloaded the cargo. After leaving Novorossiysk, the vessel directed its course to Feodosia, where it arrived on 03.12.2023. The vessel was in Feodosia until December 29, 2023. The vessel left the port of Feodosia on 28-29/12/2023, indicating the port of destination Bandirma (Turkey). In 2024, the vessel makes regular calls to the Kerch Strait area, a region of raid grain transshipment. In 2015, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels of the Syrian state company Syrian General Organization for Maritime Transport, including the Laodicea (currently known as San Cosmas). On December 16, 2024 the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective from December 17, 2024) in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in relation to the facilitation/support of actions/policies that undermine/threaten the economic existence or food security of Ukraine (e.g., transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain, transportation of stolen Ukrainian cultural property). On June 30, 2025, the US removed sanctions from the ship.