Sea vessels

The vessel is involved in the delivery of military equipment from the russian federation and the territory of the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region (Ukraine), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). On May 23, 2023, the vessel 'YANA V', which left the Caucasian Sea Commercial Port of the russian federation, crossed the Azov Sea and entered the sea space of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk Sea Commercial Port of Ukraine, where it unloaded military equipment delivered from the territory of the russian Federation to berth 10. After that, on May 28, 2023, the military equipment was taken out of the port under the protection of the 'Pantsyr-C1' anti-aircraft missile and gun system to the permanent deployment points of the russian armed forces in the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region. The authorized body of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion of aiding and abetting in the conduct of aggressive war on the Deputy Minister of Transport of the russian federation, Alexander Poshyvay, and the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Administration of the Sea Ports of the Azov Sea” Sergey Safonichev, as well as on the change of the previously announced suspicion to the head of the Federal Agency for Sea and River Transport of the russian federation Zakhary Dzhioev. Since September 2022, russian officials have allowed the use of the capacities of the Berdiansk seaport for the transportation of military equipment and personnel of the russian military formations, organized and provided conditions for the timely transportation by sea of personnel of the armed forces and other armed formations of the russian federation, military equipment, weapons to the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, thereby providing means and removing obstacles for the top military and political leadership of the russian federation to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.

In August 2024, the first shipments/reloadings of STS LNG from the sanctioned Arctic LNG-2 facility were recorded by vessels that were subsequently sanctioned by partners. At the same time, there is a possibility that earlier than in August 2024, the LNG carrier 'Christophe De Margerie' shipped the first batch of LNG from 'Arctic LNG-2' to Europe, the shipment operation was carried out in the period of June 06-11, 2024, but it was not a full batch, but a blend of LNG from 'Yamal LNG'. In the period from June 08-09, June 09-10, 2024, the vessel carried out the so-called “dark” activity near the port of Sabetta in the Gulf of Ob. Arctic LNG-2 is the second large-capacity project after Yamal LNG of Novatek's sanctioned project for natural gas extraction and liquefied natural gas production on the Gydan Peninsula. In November 2023 and February 2024, USA and the United Kingdom respectively imposed sanctions on the russian Arctic LNG-2 project, which is of strategic importance for the government of the russian federation. The LNG carrier 'Christophe de Margerie' is linked to Gas Carriers SCF MGMT FZCO (UAE), which is affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC 'Sovcomflot', the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products, liquefied gas against the background of sanctions restrictions on russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The services provided by Sovcomflot are a significant source of income for russia, as more than 70% of russia's revenues come from energy sales, which allows it to finance its war against Ukraine. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are the largest oil and gas companies and traders in russia. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG, etc. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the sanctions were imposed, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers transferred by Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under sanctions.

The vessel is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the closed port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) and its delivery for transshipment to the port of Kavkaz for further sale to third countries. A Ukrainian court arrested the vessel in absentia in 2022.

The vessel is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the closed port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off, and the export of grain to third countries by transshipment to other vessels in the Kerch Strait and the port of Kavkaz. This scheme of grain theft allows russia to conceal the Ukrainian origin of the stolen grain and sell it to third countries as grain of russian origin. The vessel made its first call to Iran on August 27, 2024, and is currently operating on the routes Astrakhan (russia) - Amirabad (Iran). The change in the vessel's sailing area is due to the change of ownership and management in July 2024. The previous owner and manager of the vessel was Falero Shipping Co Ltd (IMO 5925865), an offshore company registered in the Seychelles.

The vessel is involved in the theft of Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). The vessel was spotted twice in June 2022 near a grain terminal owned by Avlita and controlled by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). The vessel was twice loaded with more than 4,000 tons of barley, which was delivered to the port of Kavkaz (russia) for transshipment. This scheme of grain theft allows the russian federation to conceal the Ukrainian origin of the stolen grain and sell it to third countries as grain of russian origin.

The vessel is involved in the delivery of military equipment and personnel of the russian armed forces to the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region (Ukraine), and regularly calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). On May 26, 2023, the vessel “V.USPENSKIY”, which left the Rostov Commercial Sea Port of the russian federation, having passed the waters of the internal waters of the russian federation and the sea of Azov, entered the maritime space of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk Commercial Sea Port of Ukraine, where it unloaded military equipment delivered from the territory of the russian federation to berth No. 10. After that, on May 28, 2023, the military equipment was taken out of the port under the protection of the Pantsyr-C1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system to the permanent deployment points of the russian armed forces in the TOT of Zaporizhzhia region. The authorized body of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion of aiding and abetting in the conduct of aggressive war on the Deputy Minister of Transport of the russian federation, Alexander Poshyvay, and the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Administration of the Sea Ports of the Azov Sea” Sergey Safonichev, as well as on the change of the previously announced suspicion to the head of the Federal Agency for Sea and River Transport of the Russian Federation Zakhary Dzhioev. Since September 2022, russian officials have allowed the use of the capacities of the Berdiansk seaport for the transportation of military equipment and personnel of the military formations of the russian federation, organized and provided conditions for the timely transportation by sea of personnel of the armed forces and other armed formations of the russian federation, military equipment, and munitions to the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, thereby providing means and removing obstacles for the top military and political leadership of the russian federation to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.

The vessel is involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil via STS using vessels affiliated with the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), a subsidiary of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company, which is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil. The National Iranian Tanker Company is responsible for the transportation of Iranian crude oil intended for export, and plays a significant role in oil deals that are used to generate profits for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah (Hezbollah). On October 11, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which the sanctioned company Max Maritime Solutions FZE has an interest.

The vessel is involved in schemes of stealing Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). In particular, the vessel used the STS method to load grain in the Kerch Strait from the russian vessel 'M. ANDREEV' (IMO 8946377), which had exported stolen Ukrainian grain from the closed port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea, Ukraine). In 2023, the vessel regularly resorted to the practice of conducting so-called “dark” activity in the transshipment area in the Kerch Strait, which has been actively used by russia since 2023 to carry out STS transshipment with other vessels, in particular, to “legalize” stolen Ukrainian grain, redirecting it to third countries under the guise of grain of russian origin.

The vessel is involved in schemes of stealing Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Ukraine by loading grain by STS from russian vessels 'Amur 2501' (IMO 8721272) and 'Kapitan Korchin' (IMO 8959219), which exported grain from the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). ‘Amur 2501’ and ‘Kapitan Korchin’ were arrested in absentia by a Ukrainian court in 2022 on charges of violating the procedure for entering the TOT of Ukraine.

The vessel is involved in schemes of stealing Ukrainian grain from the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine), in particular, from the closed port of Sevastopol (a grain terminal owned by Avlita and controlled by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC)), and transporting it to the port of Kavkaz for transshipment. russia is trying to conceal the origin of Ukrainian grain exported through the ports of the TOT of Crimea, using various methods, including the tactic of overloading cargo in the Kerch Strait and russian ports. In this way, the vessel is involved in a scheme of stealing and “legalization” of Ukrainian grain, redirecting it to third countries under the guise of grain of russian origin.

The tanker is owned by Strong Roots Provider NV, a Suriname-based company that was sanctioned by USA on October 11, 2024, due to the company's involvement in the illicit movement of Iranian oil. On October 11, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as the property of the sanctioned company Strong Roots Provider NV.

The tanker is affiliated with Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation LLC (UAE), which was sanctioned by USA on October 11, 2024 due to the company's participation in the supply of Iranian oil/oil products in the interests of Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd, a broker operating in Iran, China, UAE and Germany and sanctioned by USA for its assistance to the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company. On October 11, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation LLC has an interest.