Marine vessels

According to United Against Nuclear Iran, the vessel was involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil and switched to the transportation of sanctioned russian oil. The Lauren II transports crude oil loaded by other tankers from ship to ship from the russian port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea. In particular, the Lauren II was tracked while loading a cargo of crude oil by means of a ship-to-ship transfer from the tanker Zhen I (IMO 9255880). The VLCC tanker was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent about $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for the high-risk transportation of russian-origin crude oil in the Atlantic Ocean. These 13 tankers include five Aframax vessels, seven very large crude oil carriers and one Suezmax vessel. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, these vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interconnected single-ship offshore companies from Hong Kong and China. Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were engaged in transshipment of cargoes in the established high-risk transshipment hub for russian crude oil for consolidation of cargoes in the area 860 nautical miles west of Portugal, in international waters. The registered owners, commercial managers, and ISM manager are characterized by an almost identical registration address in Dalian (PRC), and the same two addresses in Hong Kong. This group of tankers is considered to be the center of a fully operational mid-Atlantic transshipment hub for russian crude oil to China. Logistics STS hubs allow to conceal the ownership and origin of cargo. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic hub, transshipment centers include areas near Kalamata, Greece, Malta, Ceuta, and the Caucasus, where STS operations for russian crude oil have been established. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

The tanker is involved in STS transfers at anchorages off Malaysia, Qingdao from tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian or Venezuelan oil. The tanker resorts to disabling the automatic identification system, a behavioral pattern that indicates that the tanker is trying to avoid detection of the STS transfer. The VLCC was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent about $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for the high-risk transportation of crude oil of russian origin in the Atlantic Ocean. These 13 tankers include five Aframax vessels, seven very large crude oil carriers and one Suezmax vessel. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, these vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interconnected single-ship offshore companies from Hong Kong and China. Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were engaged in transshipment of cargoes in the established high-risk transshipment hub for russian crude oil for consolidation of cargoes in the area 860 nautical miles west of Portugal, in international waters. The registered owners, commercial managers, and ISM manager are characterized by an almost identical registration address in Dalian (PRC), and the same two addresses in Hong Kong. This group of tankers is considered to be the center of a fully operational mid-Atlantic transshipment hub for russian crude oil to China. Logistics STS hubs allow to conceal the ownership and origin of cargo. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic hub, transshipment centers include areas near Kalamata, Greece, Malta, Ceuta, and the Caucasus, where STS operations for russian crude oil have been established. The tanker, believed to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian federation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.

The vessel-bunkerer is part of the fleet of Gazpromneft Shipping LLC, which carries out marine transportation of hydrocarbon raw materials and petroleum products. Gaspromneft Shipping LLC is the shipowner and operator of Arctic tankers, icebreakers and bunkers of the sanctioned Gaspromneft Marine Bunker LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned Gazprom Neft PJSC, which is the operator of the bunker business of the sanctioned russian Gazprom Neft PJSC. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC has an interest.

The vessel-bunkerer is part of the fleet of Gazpromneft Shipping LLC, which carries out marine transportation of hydrocarbon raw materials and petroleum products. Gaspromneft Shipping LLC is the shipowner and operator of Arctic tankers, icebreakers and bunkers of the sanctioned Gaspromneft Marine Bunker LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned Gazprom Neft PJSC, which is the operator of the bunker business of the sanctioned russian Gazprom Neft PJSC. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products, in particular, in violation of the G7+ oil embargo, to the Laconic Gulf (Greece) in June 2024. The vessel called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly trading above the price cap. The vessel is affiliated with Hengtai Shipping Limited, which was sanctioned by the USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel, which is considered to be part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Hengtai Shipping Limited has an interest.

The tanker is engaged in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports, in particular in the Pacific region, mainly to China, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products. The vessel called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly trading above the price cap. The vessel is affiliated with Huihai Hong Kong Shipping Co Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on a vessel considered to be part of the shadow fleet as a property in which Huihai Hong Kong Shipping Co Limited has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Pacific region, mainly to China, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy. The tanker is affiliated through the sanctioned companies Sun Ship Management (UAE), Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), Fornax Ship Management FZCO (UAE) with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and provides offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied gas. The major charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. PJSC Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Fornax Ship Management FZCO has an interest.

A tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil. The vessel is affiliated with the Vietnamese company Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Company Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Company Limited has an interest.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, the tanker is engaged in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports, in particular, in the Pacific region, mainly to China. The tanker called at a russian port, where the price of oil is constantly trading above the upper limit of the price cap. The international public organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned company Global Industrial and Engineering Supply Ltd as the previous owner and operator of the vessel, which was sanctioned by USA in 2020 for supplying 300 metric tons of graphite to an Iranian sanctioned company, which is critical for Iran's metallurgical industry. Since January 2022, the tanker has been owned and operated by Merluza Group Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel, which is considered to be part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Merluza Group Limited has an interest. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).

The Arfamax tanker is under construction by the sanctioned russian Shipbuilding Company Zvezda LLC according to the 114K project developed by Hyundai Samno Heavy Industries (South Korea) for the sanctioned PJSC Oil Company Rosneft. The vessel is designed to transport crude oil in an unlimited area of navigation. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot (a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Oil Company Rosneft) has an interest.

Tanker (serial number ZVEZDA 131060) is being built by the sanctioned russian Shipbuilding Company Zvezda LLC and is planned to be used for export transportation from russian ports in favor of the sanctioned russian PJSC Oil Company Rosneft. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which the sanctioned russian JSC Rosnefteflot has an interest.

The bunkering tanker is designed to serve the Black Sea region of russia. The vessel is affiliated with Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Gazprom Neft, which is the operator of the bunker business of the sanctioned russian PJSC Gazprom Neft. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC has an interest.