Marine vessels

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Black Sea during the period of the G7, EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products. The vessel is engaged in dark activities near russian ports in the Black Sea and in the Kola Bay. On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the carrying crude oil/petroleum products that originated in russia from russia to a third countries.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products from FSO IMO 9448968, owned and operated by the russian company Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft LLC (TIN 3444070534), one of the largest oil producers engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas fields in the Caspian and Azov Seas and a 100% subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC LUKOIL. The FSO FSO IMO 9448968 floating storage facility is designed to store russian oil from the Yuri Korchagin field located in russian waters in the northern Caspian Sea, 180 km from Astrakhan and 240 km from Makhachkala. The field was discovered by the sanctioned russian company Lukoil in 2000. Hydrocarbons from the storage facility are delivered ashore to Makhachkala by shuttle tankers weighing between 6,000 and 12,000 tons. In Makhachkala, the oil is fed into the Novorossiysk Makhachkala pipeline, which is operated by the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR together with the russian sanctioned company PJSC Transneft (TIN 7706061801). The tanker IMO 9397676 is involved in dark activities near the russian city of Derbent (Dagestan). In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products from FSO IMO 9448968, owned and operated by the russian company Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft LLC (TIN 3444070534), one of the largest oil producers engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas fields in the Caspian and Azov Seas and a 100% subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC LUKOIL. The FSO FSO IMO 9448968 floating storage facility is designed to store russian oil from the Yuri Korchagin field located in russian waters in the northern Caspian Sea, 180 km from Astrakhan and 240 km from Makhachkala. The field was discovered by the sanctioned russian company Lukoil in 2000. Hydrocarbons from the storage facility are delivered ashore to Makhachkala by shuttle tankers weighing between 6,000 and 12,000 tons. In Makhachkala, the oil is fed into the Novorossiysk Makhachkala pipeline, which is operated by the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR together with the russian sanctioned company PJSC Transneft (TIN 7706061801). The tanker IMO 9397676 engages in dark activity near Makhachkala after making calls to the FSO IMO 9448968. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products mainly from the russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea since December 2024 during the period of the G7, EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian oil/petroleum products. On May 20, 2025, the tanker was involved in a ship-to-ship operation near Senegal with the vessel IMO 9277747, which has been under sanctions since May 09, 2025. On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the carrying crude oil/petroleum products that originated in russia from russia to a third countries.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from the russian ports of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, Primorsk, Vysotsk in the Baltic Sea since January 2024. The vessel is engaged in dark activities near russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas. The tanker is affiliated with the Turkish company Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS, which was the commercial and ISM manager of the vessel from November 2023 to March 2024. Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS is one of the top three ranking Turkish operators, which in 2023 provided transportation of hundreds of millions of barrels of russian crude oil and petroleum products. The fleet of the Turkish top three - Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS and the sanctioned Beks Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Tic and Active Denizcilik ve Gemi - transported a total of 49 million barrels of russian crude oil/petroleum products in 2023. Since March 2024, the tanker has been managed by the Turkish company Tokyo Gemi Isletmeciligi AS. Tokyo Gemi Isletmeciligi AS has the same legal address as two other Turkish ship managers, Sand Gemi Isletmeciligi AS and Cape Gemi Isletmeciligi AS. Eight tankers of these companies were operated by Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS in 2023 and early 2024, and one tanker was operated by the sanctioned Beks Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Tic. On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the carrying crude oil/petroleum products that originated in russia from russia to a third countries.

The vessel was involved in the transportation of fossil fuels from the Arctic LNG-2 facility in circumvention of sanctions, using a scheme of false AIS signalling in violation of international maritime law to conceal the vessel's true location. In early August 2024, satellite imagery revealed that the vessel was located at the sanctioned Arctic LNG-2 project, with its AIS signal still north of Norway. The vessel was escorted by an icebreaker as it headed towards the Gulf of Ob and the gas project. On or about 06 August 2024, the vessel returned to its doctored position to integrate its transponder signal. Arctic LNG-2 is the second large-capacity project after Yamal LNG of the sanctioned Novatek (TIN 6316031581) for natural gas extraction and LNG production on the Gydan Peninsula. In November 2023 and February 2024, USA and United Kingdom respectively imposed sanctions on the russian Arctic LNG-2 project, which is of strategic importance for the government of the russian federation. On 23 August 2024, USA imposed sanctions on seven LNG tankers of the shadow russian tanker fleet, as part of the restrictions on entities supporting the development of the Arctic LNG-2 and other future energy projects. On 26 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel involved in the russian LNG sector. On December 16, 2024, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective December 17, 2024) in relation to contributing to, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with promoting, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is affiliated with the russian LNG tanker fleet, which is involved in expanding russia's export capabilities in terms of LNG trade, including from the sanctioned large-capacity Arctic LNG-2 project of sanctioned PJSC Novatek. The vessel is involved in the transshipment of LNG of russian origin (from the Yamal LNG project of PJSC Novatek) through European ports. Arctic LNG-2 is the second large-capacity project after Yamal LNG of PJSC Novatek (TIN: 6316031581) for natural gas production and LNG production on the Gydansky Peninsula. In November 2023 and February 2024, USA and United Kingdom respectively imposed sanctions on the russian Arctic LNG-2 project, which is of strategic importance for the government of the russian federation. On 23 August 2024, USA imposed sanctions on an LNG tanker. On 26 September 2024, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel involved in the russian LNG sector. On December 16, 2024, EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective December 17, 2024) in relation to contributing to, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with promoting, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On June 19, 2025, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved in the russian LNG tanker fleet, expanding russia's export capabilities in the LNG trade, and transshipment of LNG of russian origin (from the Yamal LNG project of the sanctioned PJSC Novatek) through European ports. On 23 August 2024, USA imposed sanctions on an LNG tanker. On December 16, 2024, EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective December 17, 2024) in relation to contributing to, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with promoting, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved in the russian LNG tanker fleet, expanding russia's export capabilities in the LNG trade, and transshipment of LNG of russian origin (from the Yamal LNG project of the sanctioned PJSC Novatek) through European ports. On 23 August 2024, USA imposed sanctions on an LNG tanker. On December 16, 2024, EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective December 17, 2024) in relation to contributing to, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with promoting, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved in the russian LNG tanker fleet, expanding russia's export capabilities in the LNG trade, and transshipment of LNG of russian origin (from the Yamal LNG project of the sanctioned PJSC Novatek) through European ports. On 23 August 2024, USA imposed sanctions on an LNG tanker. On December 16, 2024, the EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective December 17, 2024) in relation to contributing to, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with promoting, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved on August 25, 2024, in the STS transfer with AIS deactivation of fossil fuels produced at the sanctioned russian Arctic LNG-2 facility from the sanctioned LNG tanker IMO 9256602 to the north of the Suez Canal. Arctic LNG-2 is the second large-capacity project of the sanctioned Novatek PJSC for natural gas extraction and LNG production on the Gydan Peninsula after Yamal LNG. In November 2023 and February 2024, USA and United Kingdom respectively imposed sanctions on the russian Arctic LNG-2 project, which is of strategic importance for the government of the russian federation. On 05 September 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the LNG tanker ІМО 9324277 as part of the expansion of restrictive measures against the russian energy sector in connection with attempts to export LNG from the sanctioned Arctic LNG-2. On 26 September 2024, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel ІМО 9324277 involved in the russian LNG sector. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The non-ice-class vessel is involved in the transportation of russian LNG, including from facilities located in the Arctic zone, in particular, with the AIS signal switched off and frequent course deviations. The vessel has a permit issued by the State Budgetary Institution ‘Main Directorate of the Northern Sea Route’, which is founded by the russian federation, to sail along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along the following route: western border of the NSR - Kara Sea - Gulf of Ob - port of Sabetta - western border of the NSR. The vessel is affiliated through related companies, in particular the sanctioned Sun Ship Management and Gas Carriers SCF MGMT FZCO, with the sanctioned Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for the maintenance and provision of marine hydrocarbon extraction, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders of russia. Sovcomflot participates in the maintenance of large oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Pryrazlomnoye, Novyy Port, Yamal LNG, others. Before the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the application of sanctions, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it created, including those in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, starting the practice of constant 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. On 26 September 2024, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on 5 LNG tankers, including the ‘SCF La Perouse’ (current name: ‘La Perouse’), involved in the russian LNG sector. On December 16, 2024, EU imposed sanctions on the vessel (effective December 17, 2024) in relation to contributing to, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with promoting, supporting actions or policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.