Marine vessels

The tanker was built specifically for the transportation of oil from the Prirazlomnoye field in the Pechora Sea to terminals in the Murmansk region. The Prirazlomnoye Arctic offshore oil field is being developed by the sanctioned Gazprom Neft Shelf LLC (a 100% subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Gazprom Neft), which is the center for managing Gazprom Neft's offshore projects. The tanker is involved in the transportation of oil from the Prirazlomnoye Arctic offshore oil field, in particular to Murmansk, to the floating storage tanker FSO UMBA (IMO 9196620, under USA sanctions), as well as to China. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, mainly to Brazil and Turkey. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Fornax Ship Management, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and supports offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural 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. After the sanctions were imposed, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 're-registered' by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas under Western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, EU imposed sanctions on a tanker associated with a sanctioned person (the sanctions come into force on February 25, 2025). On March 04, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the tanker as a vessel associated with a sanctioned entity.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil products from russian ports, mainly in the Black Sea, to Turkey and other third countries using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS). The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and supports offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural 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. After the sanctions were imposed, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 're-registered' by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas under Western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, EU imposed sanctions on a tanker associated with a sanctioned person (the sanctions come into force on February 25, 2025). On March 04, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the tanker as a vessel associated with a sanctioned entity.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Pacific region, mainly to China. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, liquefied natural gas. 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' and others. 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 tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products, and liquefied gas under Western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. 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 tanker has been involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil since at least 2022, in particular, it has transported hundreds of thousands of metric tons of Iranian crude oil on behalf of China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by USA in late 2019 for violating restrictions on the handling and transactions with Iranian oil. Iran relies on an extensive network of tankers and ship management companies in many jurisdictions to transport its oil to consumers, using deceptive tactics (falsification of documentation, manipulation of ship tracking systems, constant changes of ship names and flags). Since 2022, the vessel has changed its name, flag country, owner and management several times. The tanker is certified by the China Classification Society (IACS). On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

In July 2024, the tanker on behalf of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) delivered Iranian fuel oil worth approximately $18.5 million to the UAE, in August 2024, it transported an additional cargo of fuel oil worth approximately $17.5 million to the UAE. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Ministry of Oil of Iran. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, refine and export oil and natural gas in Iran. The oil deals of NIOC, including its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah (Hezbollah). On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned Indian company Vision Ship Management LLP, which is affiliated with vessels involved in the transportation of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil for the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company since 2022. Iran relies on an extensive network of tankers and ship management companies in many jurisdictions to transport its oil to consumers, using deceptive tactics (falsification of documentation, manipulation of ship tracking systems, constant changes of ship names and flags). On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which Vision Ship Management LLP has an interest.

The tanker has been involved in the transportation of millions of dollars worth of Iranian oil for the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) since at least 2022. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Ministry of Oil of Iran. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. The oil deals of NIOC, including its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah (Hezbollah). On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, mainly to India. The tanker is affiliated with Prominent Shipmanagement Limited (Hong Kong), which is an operator of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian and Iranian oil and which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 in relation to the management of the tanker fleet, the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian oil, including the Fjord Seal, which called at a russian port where the price of oil was constantly exceeding the upper ceiling of $60 per barrel, and the Samsun, which was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, mainly to India, Turkey, and other third countries, and uses the practice of disabling AIS in the Black Sea near Kherson region, TOT Crimea of Ukraine. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports, in particular, in the Baltic Sea, the Pacific region, mainly to China, India, and in conducting dark activities, in particular, near the russian port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea. In 2019, during the repair of a tanker at a shipyard near Tuzla (Turkey), an explosion occurred on the vessel, killing two people and injuring 11. The Ping An called at the russian port, where the price of oil was constantly exceeding the maximum price of $60. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region to China, in particular from a russian port where the price of oil has consistently exceeded the maximum price of $60 per barrel of russian oil set by the G7+. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.