During the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian crude oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas and the Pacific region to third countries, conducting illicit activities at sea near Indonesia, China, russia, and South Korea with a disabled AIS signal.
The tanker was also used to transport sanctions-banned Iranian oil. The tanker is affiliated with Gemini Marine Limited (under US sanctions), the fleet of which transports petroleum products on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), controlled by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. The Gemini Marine Limited fleet also transported petroleum products for the network of sanctioned financial official Houthi Saeed al-Jamal, whose network generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue from the illicit sale of oil to support the financing of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Iran export oil now help russia transport russian crude oil/petroleum products.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9263643. 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 of the 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 (not Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
The international non-governmental organization Greenpeace classifies the tanker as part of a shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment.
The russian shadow fleet continues to generate billions in revenue for the kremlin in violation of sanctions, masking its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal the owners, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with considerable economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the obsolescence and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.
On October 2, 2024, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Gemini Marine Limited has an interest.
Since May 21 and June 3, 2025, the EU and Switzerland, respectively, have imposed sanctions on the vessel for transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from rRussia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192(33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since October 30, 2025, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on the tanker.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.
