Marine vessels

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 using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities, conducting STS transmissions with other tankers, including the russian shadow fleet, near European countries). Since December 2023, the tanker has been owned by Marinequest Corp (IMO 6437580), registered in the Seychelles (Suite 10, 3rd Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles), which is widely used to register shipping companies with an opaque ownership structure, and in July 2024 the same company became the commercial manager of the vessel. In the period from January to July 2024, the tanker was affiliated with the Moldovan company Surt Ship Management SRL, which was the commercial and technical manager of the vessel during this period. This Moldovan company is one of ten Moldovan companies that played a significant role in the maritime transportation of russian crude oil and petroleum products in 2024. In July 2024, the technical management was transferred to Vvave Minder Shipmanagement (Azerbaijan), while the owner of the tanker did not change, which may indicate that the beneficiary of the vessel has not changed. Since March 2025, the technical management has been transferred to another company from Azerbaijan - Tidal Tech Mariners LLC, whose fleet as of May 26, 2025 consists of four tankers, including sanctioned ones (IMO 926165, IMO 9265873, IMO 9290921, IMO 9384095) involved in maritime trade in russian crude oil/petroleum products. 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.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian oil/petroleum products. The tanker is affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE, under UK sanctions), one of the leading operators of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products in 2022-2023. The shipping company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) was established shortly before the G7 countries introduced a price-cap policy on russian oil after russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and played a significant role in the transportation of russian crude oil. On February 22, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Fractal Marine DMCC in connection with its involvement in servicing the russian energy sector. Fractal Marine DMCC operated a fleet of 28 tankers as an intermediary between ship owners and charterers. After Fractal Marine was sanctioned, DMCC tried to challenge the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom but lost in court. After that, the company "re-signed" its fleet to other companies. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which 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.

The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo, the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, and resorts to deceptive practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities near the russian port of Ust-Luga). On May 20, 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 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.

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, and resorts to deceptive, highly irregular practices with the disabling of AIS. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. 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.

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 in the Baltic and Black Seas in 2023-2024, and from russian ports in the Pacific region from 2025. 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.

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, has been involved since August 2023 in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including the use of deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities, in particular, near the russian port of Ust-Luga, conducting STS transmissions with russian affiliation, in particular, with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9650016 near the russian port of Primorsk, as well as with the sanctioned tanker of the russian shadow fleet IMO 9332781 near Egypt). The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. 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 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.

The tanker, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, and is engaged in dark activities near the russian port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea, as well as in the Kerch Strait. In July 2024, an STS transfer took place near Italy with the tanker IMO 9384459, which was sanctioned by UK in February 2025 and arrived for transshipment from the russian port of Talagi (where the facilities of the Rosneft asset (formerly Arkhangelsknefteprodukt) are located). The vessel is affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE, under UK sanctions), one of the leading operators of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products in 2022-2023. On February 22, 2024, UK imposed sanctions on Fractal Marine DMCC in connection with its involvement in servicing the russian energy sector. Fractal Marine DMCC operated a fleet of 28 tankers as an intermediary between ship owners and charterers. After the sanctions were imposed, Fractal Marine DMCC tried to challenge the sanctions imposed by UK, but lost in court. After that, the company "re-registered" its fleet to other companies established, in particular, in the UAE. The tanker is affiliated with Macario Shipping LLC (UAE), which fleet was involved in the sanctioned trade. The tanker is also affiliated with Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), which was the tanker's ISM manager in 2023-2024. Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ managed 20 vessels affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC. A vessel from the Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ fleet loaded with russian oil was involved in an incident in the Baltic Sea that threatened environmental safety. In particular, on January 10, 2025, the 19-year-old tanker IMO 9308065, which was managed by Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ and loaded with russian oil (99 thousand tons) in the port of Ust-Luga, lost control in the Baltic Sea. According to the German Havariekommando, the vessel's power supply system and engine failed, the ship lost its ability to maneuver and began to drift at low speed in the open sea near the island of Rügen. This incident once again demonstrates the growing threat of oil spills by outdated shadow fleet vessels. The tanker is commercially managed by Zulu Ships Management, which also operates other tankers affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC - IMO 9433016, IMO 9387279, IMO 9336490, IMO 9332315, IMO 9328170, IMO 9298492, IMO 9282493, IMO 9282481, IMO 9252955, which call at russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, while tankers IMO 9332315 and IMO 9298492 call at the port of Kamysh-Burun in the TOT of Crimea. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel IMO 9252955.

According to the US-based human rights group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic using satellite data, the vessel was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and has switched to transporting russian crude since June 2023. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Iran export Iranian export oil are now helping russia transport russia's crude oil/petroleum products. In May 2022, UANI first predicted that russia would turn to a "ghost armada" to ensure oil flows to its Chinese partner. From April 2023 to January 2024, the tanker was affiliated with the Chinese company Runfeng Shipmanagement Co Ltd, the fleet of which, as of April 23, 2025, includes one sanctioned vessel IMO 9174220, involved in the transportation of iranian oil to numerous refineries in China, STS transshipment with a vessel of the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) near Singapore to transport tens of thousands of metric tons of Iranian crude oil.

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 to third countries, including the use of deceptive practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities in the Gulf of Finland, the russian ports of Novorossiysk and Baltiysk). According to the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), the vessel was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and since May 2022 has switched to the transportation of russian oil. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian export oil are now helping russia transport russian crude oil/petroleum products. On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the introduction of restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities whose purpose or effect is to destabilize Ukraine, undermine/threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or to benefit from or support the russian government, or to participate in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular from russia to a third country.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian oil/petroleum products. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. The tanker is affiliated with Night Moon Navigation LLC, incorporated in June 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The said company carried out the ISM management of this vessel, as well as other oil tankers (IMO 9229374, IMO 918722), which were classified by the International NGO Greenpeace as part of the russian federation's shadow tanker fleet. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which 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.

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, active dark activities, in particular near the russian port of Ust-Luga). The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which 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.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian oil/petroleum products, and is actively engaged in dark activities in the area of Temryuk Bay, the russian port of Ust-Luga. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. 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.