Marine Vessels

The tug is owned and operated by Shipload Maritime PTE. LTD. (Singapore), which was sanctioned by USA on March 13, 2025 for knowingly engaging in significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation or marketing of petroleum/petroleum products from Iran.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tug as a property in which the sanctioned company Shipload Maritime PTE. LTD. has an interest.

The tug is owned and operated by PT. Gianira Adhinusa Senatama (Indonesia), which was designated by the United States on 13 March 2025 for knowingly engaging in significant transactions for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.
On the same date, the United States also imposed sanctions on the tug as property in which the designated entity PT. Gianira Adhinusa Senatama holds an interest.

The tanker has been implicated in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products from ports in the Baltic, Black Seas since October 2023, during the period of the G7 and European Union (EU) oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products. The vessel has engaged in deceptive and high-risk practices, including dark activities in the Kerch Strait area. In October 2024, it conducted ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Kerch Strait with the sanctioned tankers IMO 9212008, IMO 9211999, as well as with tanker IMO 9476771, affiliated with a russian company.
In 2024, under the command of Captains Alexander Grigoriev, Ivan Shashin, and Alexander Peregrudov, the tanker transported crude oil and petroleum products from the russian ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk to India, Turkey, and China.
The international NGO Greenpeace has identified the vessel as part of the shadow fleet transporting russian oil globally and posing environmental risks. According to United Against Nuclear Iran, the tanker has been involved in the export of Iranian oil and in the carriage of designated russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products.
The vessel calls at the ports in the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine, including the port of Kamysh-Burun in June 2025.
The vessel is affiliated with the Moldovan company KSN Shipmanagement SRL, one of ten Moldovan companies that have played a significant role in maritime transportation of russian oil, subsequently transferring management of their tankers to companies in Azerbaijan, while some vessels were transferred to the management of companies in the United Arab Emirates.
On 9 May 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of measures targeting the russian shadow fleet, citing its involvement in activities intended to destabilise Ukraine, undermine or threaten its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence, benefit from or support the Government of the russian federation, and participation in the transportation of russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products, including shipments from russia to third countries.
On 20 May 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on the tanker, effective 21 May 2025, for transporting crude oil and/or petroleum products originating in, or exported from, the russian federation while employing irregular and high-risk shipping practices, as defined in International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
On 3 June 2025, sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel entered into force.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In August 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the tanker's masters.
Since September 18, 2025, Australia has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 20, 2026, New Zealand imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The VLCC tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil, as well as in the export of russian oil/petroleum products during the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products.
On 13 March 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Turquoise Sea Marine Limited (Seychelles), the owner of the tanker, for its activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. On the same date, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Turquoise Sea Marine Limited has an interest.
Since December 25, 2025, the owner and manager of the large-tonnage tanker has been the russian company Burevestmarin LLC, established in July 2025. The director and sole owner of the company is Ilya Bugay, an entrepreneur from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, Ukraine. The company also became the owner of two other tankers:
MARINERA IMO 9230880 (under US sanctions), detained on January 7, 2026, by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic south of Iceland. The vessel was detained after a two-week pursuit in the Atlantic after it evaded inspection in the Caribbean Sea. As of January 15, 2026, the tanker is under US control and has been delivered to Moray Firth (Scotland, UK);
GALLILEO IMO 9256860 (under US sanctions), detained on January 15, 2026, in the Caribbean Sea as part of Operation Southern Spear by marines and sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on charges of violating the US naval blockade and sanctions against Venezuela, as well as transporting Venezuelan oil.
As of January 15, 2026, the tanker IMO 9153525 last transmitted its coordinates on January 1, 2026, while anchored in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Aruba.

The tanker was used by the oil broker Petronix Energy Trading Limited (Hong Kong) to transport and further deliver to China hundreds of metric tons of Iranian oil purchased from Naftiran Intertrade Company, which is the marketing arm of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Iran relies on brokers outside of Iran to facilitate the sale and transport of its crude oil to end users abroad, largely in the UAE and China.
The tanker is affiliated with Alkonost Maritime DMCC (UAE), which was sanctioned by USA on February 24, 2025 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction in the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation or marketing of crude oil or petroleum products or petrochemicals from Iran.
On February 24, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which the sanctioned company Alkonost Maritime DMCC has an interest.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9271406. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The VLCC class tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil. The tanker was also used in the interests of the russian federation to carry out STS transfers of russian petroleum/petroleum products during the period of the G7+ petroleum embargo and price-cap policy on russian petroleum/petroleum products.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on United Tankers Ltd (Marshall Islands) and Lake View Ship Management Private Limited (India), which are the owner and manager of the tanker, respectively, in connection with their activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which United Tankers Ltd has an interest.

The tug is owned and operated by PT. Bintang Samudra Utama (Indonesia), which was sanctioned by the United States on March 13, 2025, for knowingly engaging in significant transactions for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.
On March 13, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the tug as property in which the designated company PT. Bintang Samudra Utama has an interest.

The vessel is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil using deceptive practices, including manipulation of AIS to conceal attempts to transport Iranian crude oil. The tanker is also involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Sun Science International Co. Limited, the owner, operator and manager of the tanker, in connection with its activities in the oil sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Sun Science International Co. Limited has an interest.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The VLCC-class tanker has been implicated in the transportation of Iranian crude oil.
On 13 March 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Itaugua Services Inc (Liberia), the owner and manager of the tanker, for its activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On the same date, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Itaugua Services Inc holds an interest.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9183271. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The tanker is engaged in ship-to-ship transfers to transport millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9203277. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Sea Services Providers NV (Suriname), the owner and manager of the tanker, in connection with the company's activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Sea Services Providers NV has an interest.

The VLCC class tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9257149. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Neptune Marine Ltd (Marshall Islands) and Huaxia Trading Ltd (China), which are the owner and manager of the tanker, respectively, in connection with their activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Neptune Marine Ltd has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of millions of barrels of Iranian oil from the port of Changxhing in Dalian (China) on behalf of the Iranian military.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Heshun Transportation Trading Limited (Hong Kong), the owner and operator of the tanker, in connection with the company's activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.
On March 13, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Hong Kong Heshun Transportation Trading Limited has an interest.