Marine Vessels

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been used since October 2025 to export russian crude oil and petroleum products from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas to India, China, Turkey, and other third countries.
On August 6, 2026, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker.
On September 13, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian petroleum products from russian ports in the Arctic region, the Black Sea, and the Baltic Sea to Tunisia, Brazil, Turkey, and Egypt on behalf of the largest oil companies in the russian federation — PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft", PJSC "Surgutneftegaz", and PJSC "Lukoil".
Additionally, during the fuel crisis in the russian federation, the tanker is involved in supplying gasoline from Morocco to the aggressor country. Specifically, in July 2026, the tanker, under the command of master Gong Yanjun (Chinese citizen), delivered nearly 32,000 metric tons of gasoline from the Moroccan port of Tanger Med to the port of Murmansk.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the port of Ust-Luga to Turkey and Egypt.
The tanker was also involved in supplying petroleum products to the russian federation during the fuel crisis. In July 2026, the tanker, under the command of master He Qingshan (a Chinese citizen), delivered over 30,000 metric tons of gasoline from Morocco (Tanger Med) to the port of Vysotsk.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian petroleum products from russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas to Tunisia, Ghana, Turkey, Brazil, the UAE, and a transshipment area near Malta, on behalf of russia’s largest oil companies—PJSC "Lukoil" and PJSC "Surgutneftegaz".
The tanker was also involved in supplying petroleum products to the russian federation during the fuel crisis. Specifically, in August 2026, the tanker, under the command of master Sarbjit Singh (an Indian citizen), delivered nearly 37,000 metric tons of gasoline from the port of Tanger Med to the port of Vysotsk. The russian company JSC "Novotoryk Maritime Agency" (TIN 2304031438), which is part of the network of companies affiliated with the sanctioned russian PJSC "Lukoil", as well as Horizon Tangiers Terminals SA and Kairo International Limited, were involved in the import of gasoline from Morocco.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker was involved in 2023–2024 in the export of russian petroleum products from russian ports in the Arctic region, the Black Sea, and the Baltic Sea to Libya, Lebanon, Tunisia, Brazil, Turkey, and Trinidad and Tobago in the interests of the largest oil companies in the russian federation—PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft" and PJSC "Surgutneftegaz".
Additionally, during the fuel crisis in the russian federation, the tanker was involved in supplying gasoline from Morocco to the aggressor country. According to available information, the tanker IMO 9252448, under the command of master Kang Huiye, delivered nearly 32,000 metric tons of gasoline from Morocco (Tanger Med) to the port of St. Petersburg in late August 2026.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker was involved in the export of russian petroleum products from russian ports in the Pacific region to South Korea.
The tanker was also involved in supplying petroleum products to russia during the fuel crisis. Specifically, in August 2026, the tanker, under the command of master Vasily Alekseevich Novikov (russian citizen), delivered nearly 3,000 metric tons of diesel from the port of Kunsan (Gunsan) in South Korea to Vladivostok. The following russian companies were involved in the delivery of this shipment of diesel fuel: Imtrade LLC (TIN 2543013630), Parus LLC (TIN 2537135341), JSC "DNIIMF" (TIN 2536017088), and the foreign company Ivory Management Company Limited.
It is known that Imtrade LLC, within the framework of the russian public procurement system, is a supplier to russian state budgetary institutions—the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "VNIIRO" (TIN 7708245723) and the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Morspasluzhba" (TIN 7707274249)—which, in turn, actively cooperate with the secret divisions of the russian Ministry of Defense responsible for nuclear technical support, the security and operation of the aggressor country’s nuclear arsenal, deep-sea research, reconnaissance of global underwater infrastructure, and the planning of deep-sea sabotage and reconnaissance missions in the interests of the aggressor country.
JSC "DNIIMF," affiliated with the Federal State Agency "russian Maritime Register of Shipping," the russian government, represented by the Ministry of Transport of the russian federation. The main clients of JSC "DNIIMF" are russian government agencies, large transportation and logistics companies, and enterprises in the maritime sector of the aggressor country.

During the fuel crisis, the vessel was involved in supplying petroleum products to the russian federation.
In August 2026, the tanker, under the command of masters Roman Vladimirovich Bakanov and Yevgeny Anatolyevich Dymov (russian citizens), delivered nearly 22,000 metric tons of diesel fuel from the port of Ulsan, South Korea, to the port of Nakhodka. Subsequently, this cargo was transported by the tanker IMO 9163776 to Magadan and Vladivostok.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker was involved in the export of russian petroleum products.
The vessel was also involved in supplying petroleum products to the russian federation during the fuel crisis.
The tanker IMO 9163752, under the command of masters Vladimir Mikhailovich Mozhaev and Umed Khabibulayevich Ganiev (russian citizens), delivered three shipments of diesel fuel totaling over 35,000 metric tons from the port of Ulsan, South Korea, to the port of Nakhodka in July–August 2026.
In addition, in early August 2026, the vessel IMO 9163752 delivered several liters of JET A-1 aviation fuel from the port of Ulsan, South Korea, to the port of Nakhodka. This shipment of fuel was likely delivered to the aggressor country for the purpose of conducting laboratory research, testing samples, and exploring the possibility of certification under russian RT or TS-1 standards.
The supply chain from South Korea to the russian federation for diesel fuel and samples of JET A-1 aviation fuel transported by the tanker IMO 9163752 involves the private Hong Kong-based company Golden Centre Trading Limited (CR No.: 2486074, BRN No.: 67258688), and the russian companies OOO "Turey" (TIN 2540273648) and OOO "Morskoy Briz" (TIN 2508126864).

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian petroleum products from ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region, primarily to China, and also to Turkey.
The tanker was also involved in supplying petroleum products to russia during the fuel crisis. In early September 2026, the tanker IMO 9353137 delivered nearly 14,000 metric tons of a product needed to increase the octane rating of gasoline from the Chinese port of Huinzhou to the port of Vladivostok.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian petroleum products from the ports of Ust-Luga, Vysotsk, and Novorossiysk to Turkey, Brazil, India, and Malta, specifically on behalf of PJSC Lukoil.
The tanker was also involved in supplying petroleum products to the russian federation during the fuel crisis. In late August 2026, the tanker delivered 31,000 metric tons of petroleum products (presumably gasoline) from Morocco (Tanger Med) to the port of St. Petersburg. The russian company Global Marine Agencies LLC (TIN 7801749027), incorporated on April 14, 2026, is involved in handling this shipment.

During the period of the oil embargo and the G7+ countries’ price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian petroleum products from russian ports on the Black and Baltic Seas to Turkey, Lebanon, Georgia, and Morocco, acting in the interests of, among others, PJSC "Gazprom".
Additionally, during the fuel crisis in the russian federation, the tanker is involved in the supply chain delivering gasoline to the aggressor country. Specifically, in August 2026, the tanker IMO 9587831 transferred nearly 27,000 metric tons of gasoline—shipped from the port of Mersin (Turkey)—to the tanker IMO 9374416 via a ship-to-ship transfer near Ceuta. In turn, the tanker IMO 9374416 delivered the gasoline cargo to the Vitino terminal (Port of Kandalaksha).

In russia, the tanker IMO 9904546 is referred to as the flagship of the new generation of the Arctic transport fleet. The vessel has a high Arc7 ice class, which allows it to operate in harsh climatic conditions, independently breaking through ice over 2 m thick. The tanker features improved ice-class hull contours and technical solutions that ensure safe operation in low temperatures, enabling the gas carrier to navigate the Northern Sea Route year-round.
Technical specifications and main dimensions of the tanker: length – 300 m, width – 48.8 m; draft – 11.7 m, deadweight – 81,000 metric tons, capacity – 172,600 cubic meters, LNG storage system – diaphragm type; propulsion system power – 45 MW (three full-turn propeller-rudder units, 15 MW each, manufactured locally at OOO "VRC Sapphire Plant" (Bolshoy Kamen).
The tanker operates under the russian flag, is registered in St. Petersburg, and has a crew of 31 russian sailors.
The tanker, IMO 9904546, is the first tanker built in russia for the transport of liquefied natural gas.
The vessel was built at the russian shipyard SSK Zvezda LLC (TIN 2503032517), which is subject to sanctions, with significant delays due to a lack of experience in building such vessels and pressure from sanctions. In December 2024, the LNG carrier left SSK Zvezda LLC for sea trials, but it took another year to fully complete the trials, including gas tests.
Following the completion of trials, the vessel was handed over on December 22, 2025, to PJSC "Sovcomflot" to operate under a long-term time-charter contract with "Arctic LNG-2" — the sanctioned project of PJSC "Novatek" for the extraction and production of liquefied natural gas. The "Arctic LNG-2" winter logistics scheme involves delivering LNG from the plant in Ob Bay to the floating storage vessel IMO 9915090 in Ura Bay, Murmansk Oblast, from where the LNG is loaded onto Arc4 ice-class gas carriers and conventional vessels for delivery to consumers. The Beihai LNG terminal in China receives LNG from the sanctioned project.
Since January 2026, the tanker has been involved in transporting liquefied natural gas from the sanctioned russian "Arctic LNG-2" project in Ob Bay to the sanctioned floating gas storage vessel IMO 9915090 in Ura Bay, Murmansk Oblast.
On January 28, 2026, the gas carrier IMO 9904546 carried out its first LNG loading at "Arctic LNG-2," and on February 3, 2026, it unloaded at the floating storage facility IMO 9915090.
Since August 2024, the owner of the tanker IMO 9904546 has been the sanctioned company PJSC "Novatek"— russia’s largest independent gas producer, which is engaged in the exploration, production, processing, and sale of natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons.
The operator of the tanker is the sanctioned company PJSC "Sovcomflot." PJSC "Sovcomflot" is russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, providing services and support for offshore hydrocarbon production and the transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas. The main charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot’s vessels are russia’s largest oil and gas companies and traders. Sovcomflot PJSC participates in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: "Sakhalin-1", "Sakhalin-2", "Varanдей", "Prirazlomnoye", "Novy Port", "Yamal LNG" and others.
The technical manager of the tanker is the russian company "LNG Shipping" LLC (TIN 7841085679). "LNG Shipping" LLC is a subsidiary of the russian shipping group PJSC "Sovcomflot", registered in St. Petersburg in July 2019, and specializes in the ownership and operation of vessels for transporting russian LNG.
In June 2024, as part of efforts to restrict russia’s future revenues from liquefied natural gas, the United States imposed sanctions on four LNG tankers, including the vessel IMO 9904546, which was under construction at the time.
On June 12, 2026, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since July 24, 2026, the EU has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On October 1, 2026, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.