Sea vessels

It was involved in the transportation of ammunition from Iran to russia across the Caspian sea in February 2024. The vessel started calling Iranian ports in 2019-2020. From August 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 13 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian ports of Astrakhan, Makhachkala, Olya and in the opposite direction. The ship practiced disabling its AIS near the port, resulting in no fixed port call. The Iranian port of Amirabad is a key point of Iranian drone shipments to rf. The drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. On 10 September 2024, USA and United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It was involved in transportation of military cargoes (ammunition, shells, armored vests and helmets) from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with AIS disconnection. The vessel is also mentioned as being involved in trade cooperation between Iran and russia. From July 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 15 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Astara, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian port of Astrakhan and in the opposite direction. The Iranian port of Amirabad is the key point of Iranian drone shipments to russia. Drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. There is a practice of incorrect display of the vessel's load, in some voyages it is impossible to identify the place of loading/unloading. The vessel practises disconnection of AIS near the port, as a result of which the port call is not recorded. The owner of the vessel is the russian LLC "Declaration Firm "VTS-Broker" (TIN 3017037318), which is part of the structure of "VTS Group of Companies", positioned as the largest freight forwarder in the Astrakhan region in the market of transportation and logistics services for general, tare and piece cargoes and containers in russia and the Caspian littoral states. The company's fleet includes seven dry-cargo vessels. Among the company's main clients are sub-sanctioned russian PJSC Mechel (TIN 7703370008), Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan LLC (TIN 3006006420). On 10 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates within the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the russian ministry of defence, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, the U.S. imposed sanctions on vessel as a property of SK-Yug LLC. Engaged by russia for important maritime logistics operations since 2018. The design, certification and capabilities of the Sparta IV make it an excellent transit vessel for large military equipment. Its volumetric payload capacity, two cranes capable of lifting up to 55 tonnes and overall displacement mean the vessel can easily transport heavy military cargo such as the T-90 tanks deployed in Syria. In 2023, the vessel made at least 6 voyages between the military ports of Tartus, Syria and Novorossiysk, russia: 14-25 January, 01-06 March, 8-15 April, 16-25 May, 25 June-15 July (reportedly unloading military equipment at the port of Novorossiysk), and 10 August. On each of these voyages, the Sparta IV only called at terminals of the russian naval base. Among the cargoes carried could be missiles for the S-300 SAM system, which is regularly used to shell Kharkiv and frontline Ukrainian cities. Thus "Sparta IV", heading from Syria to the port of Novorossiysk with heavy cargo, on the night of Sunday 05.03.2023 passed the Bosphorus Strait with probably the mentioned missiles on board. The vessel was loaded at the russian naval base in Tartus, Syria. Military vehicles were involved in the loading and the vessel's large holds were opened at the time. When the Sparta IV passed the Bosphorus, it had a draft of 6.2 metres (20 feet), which implies a heavy load. In addition, the Sparta IV had already delivered military cargoes in August 2022. At that time, russian missiles for the S-300 SAM system were unloaded from the vessel in Novorossiysk. The russian federation continues to use cargo vessels to move cargo, including military cargo, through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. During 2022-2023, these straits were crossed by russian cargo vessels affiliated with Oboronlogistika LLC, namely: "Sparta IV", "Ursa Major", "Sparta II". The said vessels were operating on the routes Novorossiysk Port (russia) - Bosphorus - Dardanelles - Tartus Port (Syria). On 15.07.2023 the vessel "Sparta IV" in the port of Novorossiysk was involved in loading artillery systems (probably M-46, D-30 or 2B16 "Nona"), which were delivered by the vessel to the Syrian port of Tartus on 07.08.2023. After that the vessel returned to the port of Novorossiysk, and already on 30.08.2023 made a call to the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea), where it made a call on 30.08.2023 in an empty state for scheduled repairs. In 2024, the vessel continued to operate on the Novorossiysk (russia) - Tartus (Syria) line. In particular, in February 2024, the vessel sailed from Novorossiysk to Tartus together with the tanker ‘Yaz’ (IMO 9735323), the rollers ‘Lady Maria’ (IMO 9220641) and ‘Baltic Leader’ (IMO 9220639), which were first used on the Novorossiysk-Tartus line. In June 2024, the vessel was deployed on the St Petersburg - Kaliningrad container line, where it made two colonies. At the end of June 2024, the vessel made a crossing of the North Sea. It is likely that the vessel will be engaged in the summer to deliver cargoes required for the construction of a new terminal and field development from the port of Arkhangelsk to the port of Bukhta Sever.

The vessel makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine) and is involved in regular deliveries of Shahed 136/131 UAVs from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with the AIS signal disabled. From Tehran, the drones are delivered to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are vesselped to Makhachkala by sea. Then, the drones and launchers are transported by air and land to launching sites near the borders of Ukraine - Seshcha in the north, in Bryansk Oblast, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the south, in Krasnodar Krai. It is also involved in violations of the 'Crimean sanctions'. Ladoga shipping company LLC, a shipping company based in Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea, whose vessels previously entered the temporarily occupied Crimea and transported military cargo for delivery to the Iranian military on behalf of Rosoboronexport. In February and September 2024, the vessel was subject to sanctions imposed by USА and United Kingdom, respectively.

It is involved in the transportation of russian export weapons to India through the Bosphorus Strait. It is owned by the sanctioned russian maritime shipping company MG-Flot LLC (previous name Transmorflot LLC). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on Transmorflot LLC and its vessels involved in the transportation of weapons for the russian federation. MG-Flot LLC is linked to Astrakhan businessman Pashayev Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich, who built his business around the commercial port of Olya in the Astrakhan region. This place was proposed as a key logistic hub of the international transport corridor "North-South", the creation and construction of which was supervised and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transportation corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route.

Involved in the transportation of weapons for russia. In 2018, it delivered missiles for the S-400 air defense missile system from russia to China. The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian shipping company M Leasing LLC (TIN 9701173086). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on M Leasing LLC vessels (including "Ascalon") involved in the transportation of weapons.

It is involved in the transportation of military equipment for the russian troops in Syria The vessel belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-South LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. OOO Oboronlogistika. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates within the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the russian ministry of defence, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on "Ursa Major" as a property of SK-South LLC. After a long period of work in the Caspian Sea to provide transportations between the ports of russia and Iran, in September 2023 completed the passage to the Azov-Black Sea basin, where it was without AIS signal. The vessel made calls at the port of Taurus (Syria) using an AIS disconnection scheme to conceal destinations. While making voyages to Syria, passed the Bosphorus Strait without waiting. In accordance with established practice, vessels wait for their turn to pass for a certain period of time. This is only possible with prior agreement with representatives of the Turkish maritime administration The russian federation continues to use cargo vessels to move cargo, including military cargo, through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. During 2022-2023, these straits were crossed by russian cargo vessels affiliated with Oboronlogistika LLC, namely: "Sparta IV", "Ursa Major", "Sparta II". These vessels were travelling along the routes Novorossiysk Port (russia) - Bosphorus - Dardanelles - Tartus Port (Syria). Since March 2024, the vessel has been sailing between the ports of Baltiysk - Kronstadt - St Petersburg.

The vessel is designed to carry heavy vehicles and can accommodate up to 700 tonnes of cargo, including up to 20 trucks and more than 130 passengers. Since 2015, in violation of Ukrainian legislation and the ‘Crimean’ sanctions, the vessel has been making frequent calls to the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Kerch, Kamysh-Burun, and the port of Crimea), delivering cargo, including dangerous goods, and transporting russian military personnel. On 27 July 2022, the vessel made a so-called ‘technical’ (trial) voyage from Yeysk (Krasnodar Territory, russia) to the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol (Ukraine), which is likely used by the russian military to arrange the supply of weapons, military equipment and military personnel to the TOT of Ukraine. Since October 2022, together with the ferry ‘Maria E’ (IMO 9617923), it has been operating on the strategically important for Russia line ‘Crimea-Caucasus’, which, according to Oboronlogistika LLC, is focused on the delivery of civilian and construction cargo to the TOT of Donbas (the vessel has been already involved in this route in the period from 2015 to 2018 before the commissioning of the Crimean bridge). The vessel was involved in fulfilling the tasks set by the supreme commander-in-chief of the russian federation at the Kerch ferry crossing. Since March 2018, the vessel has been involved in the transportation of troops and cargo for the benefit of the Rosgvardia on the ferry route ‘port of Kavkaz - port of Kerch,’ and in November 2022, it was used by the russian company OBL-Trans LLC, a member of the Oboronlogistika group of companies, in the multimodal delivery of medical equipment (a 27-tonne russian-made mobile tomograph) to the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. The vessel is owned and operated by OBL-Shipping LLC (IMO 5945681, TIN: 9705070412, under Ukrainian sanctions), which is a subsidiary of the sanctioned Oboronlogistica LLC (IMO 5906931, TIN: 7718857267). Obl-Shipping LLC also manages the vessels ‘Pizhma’ (IMO 8814354), ‘Ambal’ (IMO 8807416), ‘Sparta II’ (IMO 9160994) on strategic routes important for russia, constantly monitors the serviceability of the fleet, compliance with the rules of safe operation of vessels, etc., and is a certified company for the provision of services for the maritime transportation of nuclear materials, radioactive substances, and radioactive waste.

It is involved in the transportation of military cargo and military personnel from Novorossiysk (russia) to Tartus (Syria), and back, and allegedly from Tartus to the ports of the TOT Crimea (Ukraine). It is involved in the regular transportation of military cargo and military personnel from Novorossiysk (russia) to Tartus (Syria), and back, and allegedly from Tartus to the ports of the TOT Crimea (Ukraine). The vessel is involved in the Ust-Luga-Baltic container ferry (transportation of containers, rolling equipment, general cargo). It belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the ministry of defence of russia, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering goods to the temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on Sparta as a property of SK-Yug LLC.

The vessel is engaged in transportation of ammunition, Shahed 136/131 UAVs (parts, components, materials) from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with the AIS disabled. From Tehran, the drones are delivered to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are vesselped to Makhachkala by sea, then transported by aircraft and land to launching sites near the borders of Ukraine - Seshcha in the north, in Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the south, in Krasnodar region. There is a practice of incorrectly displaying the vessel's workload, and on some voyages it is impossible to establish the place of loading/unloading. The vessel has a practice of switching off its AIS near the port, which results in no record of port calls. The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian shipping company Dalir LLC, which is based in Astrakhan, operates in the Caspian Sea, and transports military cargo for delivery to the Iranian military on behalf of the sanctioned russian company Rosoboronexport JSC, the only russian state intermediary agency for the export and import of the entire range of military, defence and dual-use products, technologies and services. In February and September 2024, USA and the United Kingdom respectively imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is owned by the sanctioned russian shipping company MG-Flot LLC (formerly Transmorflot LLC). MG-Flot LLC is associated with Astrakhan businessman Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich Pashayev, who built his business around the Olya trade port in Astrakhan region (he owns/controls a network of companies operating in the Olya port). This particular location was proposed as a key logistics hub for the North-South international transport corridor, the creation and construction of which was overseen and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transport corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route. Pashayev's companies have been involved in russian exports of military goods since 2021, and have concluded more than 200 agreements on the sea transportation of military goods to countries around the world. Pashayev and his companies are an integral part of the ongoing transfer of goods to the sanctioned russian JSC ‘SEZ PVT Alabuga’, one of the main plants for the assembly of UAVs with the support of Iran for the needs of the russian Ministry of Defence. The vessel ‘Port Olya-4’ regularly sails the Caspian Sea, transporting cargo between Iran and russia. On 10 September 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as the property of the sanctioned MG-Flot LLC.

It is involved in the regular transportation of military cargo and military personnel from Novorossiysk (russia) to Tartus (Syria), and back, and allegedly from Tartus to the ports of the TOT Crimea (Ukraine). Also the vessel is involved in the transportation of ilmenite for the russian-seized "Crimean Titan" to the TOT of Crimea, and operates on the Novorossiysk (russia) - Tartus (Syria) line. Since the end of 2023, the vessel has been transferred from the Novorossiysk-Tartus line to the St. Petersburg-Kaliningrad container ferry. On 28.07.2023, the Federal Transport Supervision Service of the russian federation issued a licence allowing the vessel to transport all types of dangerous goods, including radioactive cargo (hazard class 7). The vessel has appropriate additional equipment and some crew members have undergone specialised training. The design of the dry cargo vessel is fully suitable for transporting cargoes of all hazard classes, including radioactive ones. The vessel has a deck for containers and general cargo, two holds, one of which is equipped for the transport of nuclear fuel waste. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on the "Pizhma", which was owned by the then-sanctioned russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the then-sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the russian ministry of defence, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). Since July 2023, the vessel has been owned by the russian shipping company Obl-shipping LLC, which is part of Oboronlogistika Group.