The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports, including the use of deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, making STS transmissions).
In October 2023, after leaving the port of Ust-Luga, the tanker made an STS transmission with tanker IMO 9378620 (under UK sanctions), affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and its affiliated company Galena Ship Management, near Malta.
In April 2024, after leaving a russian port, in the area near Greece, in July 2024, after leaving a russian port, in the area near Malta, the tanker made an STS transfer with the tanker IMO 9323974, affiliated with Megger Marine Solutions FZE (UAE), whose fleet includes the tanker IMO 9250543 (under sanctions of the United Kingdom and Canada), which since August 2023 has been involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, mainly to India.
In April 2024, in the area near Greece, the tanker carried out an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9318034, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and the Gatik-related company Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, in May 2024, in the area near Malta, the tanker carried out an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9419151, affiliated with Gatik Ship Management and the Gatik-related company Caishan Ship Management.
The tanker has made other STS transmissions.
The tanker IMO 9290517 is 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 oil under Western sanctions, and the company Caishan Ship Management, which is related to Gatik, which in 2023, together with Orion Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Nautilus Shipping, Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to "juggle" vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Caishan Ship Management were the previous managers of the vessel. Tankers operated/managed by the Indian Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports.
Against the backdrop of sanctions, russia is using a scheme of "juggling" ships between related companies to conceal oil exports outside the price cap and other restrictions, as well as to conceal the real owners of ships, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels by a "shadow" fleet of outdated oil tankers, creates new companies for these purposes (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Mauritius, Seychelles, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. In order to implement this scheme, technical/commercial management and ship owners are constantly changing, and ships are renamed with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign, including for sanctioned vessels.
On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the captain of the tanker IMO 9290517.
On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country.
On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force.