Sea vessels

The vessel is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil and the price cap policy at $60 per barrel of russian oil. The tanker was transporting russian Urals crude oil at a price of more than $70 after the price-cap policy came into effect. The vessel is owned by Streymoy shipping LTD, the manager of South Fleet LLC, affiliated with the sanctioned Sovcomflot PJSC, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas amid the application of sanctions restrictions to russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The services provided by Sovcomflot are a significant source of income for the russian federation, as more than 70% of russia's revenues come from the sale of energy, 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, 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 affiliated 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 natural gas under Western sanctions. In December 2023, USA imposed sanctions on Viktor Bakaev for non-compliance with the price-cap policy for russian oil.

In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels, including the "Ambal", affiliated with the russian sanctioned company Oboronlogistika LLC, a russian shipping company operating as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main tasks 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 cargo to the temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). It mainly operates in the Baltic Sea between the russian ports of Baltiysk and Ust-Luga.

The vessel was used together with the зassenger/Ro-Ro ship ‘Lavrentiy’ (IMO 8647866) at the Kerch ferry crossing, carrying out cargo and passenger transportation, including in the interests of the russian ministry of defence, with regular calls to the port of Kerch (TOT Crimea, Ukraine), violating the state borders of Ukraine. In December 2023, after repairs, the vessel returned to the strategically important Crimea-Caucasus line, which, according to Oboronlogistika LLC, is focused on the delivery of civilian and construction cargo to the TOT of Donbas. In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels, including the "Maria E", affiliated with the russian sanctioned company Oboronlogistika LLC, a russian shipping company operating as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main tasks 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 cargo to the temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine).

The vessel is involved in stealing Ukrainian grain and exporting it to Syria, Turkey, calls at ports in Ukraine (Kamysh-Burun). In April 2022, as part of the restrictions imposed on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia, which provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex, sanctions were imposed on five vessels, including the "SV Konstantin", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC.

It makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea and is involved in the export of russian oil products from ports in the Sea of Azov. In April 2022, USA imposed sanctions on five vessels, including the tanker "Lady Sevda", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC, as part of the restrictions imposed on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia that provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex. Since 25.11.2022, the vessel has been owned and managed by the russian shipping company Region Express Tanker LLC (registration number 9705160842, Moscow).

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports to third countries, and resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal, conducting so-called 'dark activities' at sea. The owner, manager and commercial manager of the tanker since March 2024 is an unknown company Sudair Maritime Inc (Seychelles), which fleet consists only of the vessel 'LACONIA', and the ISM manager is the Indian company Amsha Maritime. The vessel is certified by the Indian regulator Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). The tanker 'LACONIA' is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the so-called 'shadow" fleet involved in the transportation of Russian crude oil under Western sanctions, and the company Gaurik Ship Management LLP, which is related to Gatik, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Orion Ship Management LLP, Nautilus Shipping (India), Ark Seakonnect Shipmanagment LLC, Zidan Ship Management, was involved in a scheme to 'juggle' vessels managed by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Gaurik Ship Management LLP were the previous managers of the tanker 'LACONIA'. Tankers operated/managed by India's Gatik Ship Management continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports. As sanctions are being imposed, russia uses a scheme of "juggling" ships between related companies to conceal oil exports outside the price cap and other restrictions, as well as to hide the real owners of ships, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels by a 'shadow' fleet of obsolete oil tankers, creates new companies for these purposes (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Mauritius, Seychelles, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. In order to implement this scheme, technical/commercial management and ship owners are constantly changing, and vessels are renamed with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign, including for sanctioned vessels. Shadow fleet vessels operate under “convenient flags”, which allows them to conceal their true origin and avoid control by international organizations and insurance companies. Almost all vessels that are involved in the transportation of russian oil by the shadow fleet since 2022 have been certified by the Indian regulator Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). The certification of shadow fleet vessels allows the shipowner/operator to insure the vessels, which, in turn, allows the vessels to enter ports and pass through various specific sea routes (straits, canals, etc.). The 'shadow' fleet, transporting huge volumes of crude oil through heavily trafficked routes through narrow straits close to the coastline, without proper P&I insurance, with automatic identification systems disabled, threatens an environmental disaster with significant economic costs to be borne by the affected coastal countries and/or the international community. The recent incidents off Malaysia only underscore the need for swift action to curb the potentially devastating impact of the growing 'shadow fleet'. 'Shadow' tankers have already been involved in 50 incidents from the Danish Straits all the way to Malaysia since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to CREA, from January to August 2024, the number of shadow tankers crossing the Danish Straits in Europe increased by 277% compared to the same period in 2022, with 64% of the 46 million tons of russian marine oil transported through the Danish Straits being transported by shadow tankers. In the same period, the number of shadow tankers in the Straits of Dover and Gibraltar increased by 355% compared to 2022, transporting 67% of the 37 million tons of oil through the straits. The Suez Canal experienced a staggering 649% increase in shadow tanker traffic, with 69% of the 52 million tons of russian crude oil passing through it being transported by these vessels. Thus, the 'shadow fleet' of the russian federation continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.

It makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea and is involved in the export of russian oil products from ports in the Black Sea. In April 2022, USA imposed sanctions on five vessels, including the tanker "Lady Rania", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC, as part of the restrictions imposed on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia that provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex. Since 24.11.2022, the vessel has been owned and managed by the russian shipping company BM-Flot LLC (registration number 3000002959, Astrakhan).

The vessel is involved in the transportation of russian oil products and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (the port of Crimea). In April 2022, USA imposed sanctions on five vessels, including the tanker "Lady Leila", affiliated with Alfa-Leasing LLC, a sanctioned subsidiary of Alfa-Bank JSC, as part of the restrictions imposed on Alfa-Bank JSC, the largest private financial institution in russia that provides financial services to the russian military-industrial complex. Since 25.11.2022, the vessel has been owned by the russian shipping company Adamant LLC (registered at 3025003601, Astrakhan) and managed by the russian shipping company BM-Flot LLC (registration number 3000002959, Astrakhan).

The vessel is designed to transport dangerous goods in packaging on railway wagons and rolling equipment (motor vehicles). It is part of the fleet of the sanctioned russian company PJSC Sakhalin shipping company, one of the largest russian shipping companies in the Far East, which is among the top 100 largest container shipping companies in the world, is one of the leaders in terms of cabotage traffic, and is an important link in export and import traffic with the Asia-Pacific region. It is part of the Delo Group of companies (affiliated with Rosatom State Corporation), with 58.67% of its shares owned by the sanctioned PJSC TransContainer, russia's largest railway container operator providing a full range of transport and logistics services in integration with other Delo Group assets. The vessels of PJSC Sakhalin shipping company are involved in the development of future large-scale russian energy facilities, the delivery of relevant construction materials and equipment by sea to the Taimyr Peninsula, and the expansion of russia's trade routes to new foreign jurisdictions to replace the economic ties lost after russia's invasion of Ukraine. In July 2023, USA imposed sanctions on 14 vessels, including the "Sakhalin 10", belonging to the fleet of the Sakhalin shipping company.

The double-deck roll-on/roll-off icebreaker with a closed railway deck is designed to transport railway trains, rolling equipment (vehicles) and passengers. It is part of the fleet of the sanctioned russian company PJSC Sakhalin shipping company, one of the largest russian shipping companies in the Far East, which is among the top 100 largest container shipping companies in the world, is one of the leaders in terms of cabotage traffic, and is an important link in export and import traffic with the Asia-Pacific region. It is part of the Delo Group of companies (affiliated with Rosatom State Corporation), with 58.67% of its shares owned by the sanctioned PJSC TransContainer, russia's largest railway container operator providing a full range of transport and logistics services in integration with other Delo Group assets. The vessels of PJSC Sakhalin shipping company are involved in the development of future large-scale russian energy facilities, the delivery of relevant construction materials and equipment by sea to the Taimyr Peninsula, and the expansion of russia's trade routes to new foreign jurisdictions to replace the economic ties lost after russia's invasion of Ukraine. In July 2023, USA imposed sanctions on 14 vessels, including the "Sakhalin 9", belonging to the fleet of the Sakhalin shipping company.

The double-deck roll-on/roll-off icebreaker with a closed railway deck is designed to transport railway trains, rolling equipment (vehicles) and passengers. It is part of the fleet of the sanctioned russian company PJSC Sakhalin shipping company, one of the largest russian shipping companies in the Far East, which is among the top 100 largest container shipping companies in the world, is one of the leaders in terms of cabotage traffic, and is an important link in export and import traffic with the Asia-Pacific region. It is part of the Delo Group of companies (affiliated with Rosatom State Corporation), with 58.67% of its shares owned by the sanctioned PJSC TransContainer, russia's largest railway container operator providing a full range of transport and logistics services in integration with other Delo Group assets. The vessels of PJSC Sakhalin shipping company are involved in the development of future large-scale russian energy facilities, the delivery of relevant construction materials and equipment by sea to the Taimyr Peninsula, and the expansion of russia's trade routes to new foreign jurisdictions to replace the economic ties lost after russia's invasion of Ukraine. In July 2023, USA imposed sanctions on 14 vessels, including the "Sakhalin 8", belonging to the fleet of the Sakhalin shipping company.

The vessel is designed for container, general and bulk cargo transportation. It is part of the fleet of the sanctioned russian company PJSC Sakhalin shipping company, one of the largest russian shipping companies in the Far East, which is among the top 100 largest container shipping companies in the world, is one of the leaders in terms of cabotage traffic, and is an important link in export and import traffic with the Asia-Pacific region. It is part of the Delo Group of companies (affiliated with Rosatom State Corporation), with 58.67% of its shares owned by the sanctioned PJSC TransContainer, russia's largest railway container operator providing a full range of transport and logistics services in integration with other Delo Group assets. The vessels of PJSC Sakhalin shipping company are involved in the development of future large-scale russian energy facilities, the delivery of relevant construction materials and equipment by sea to the Taimyr Peninsula, and the expansion of russia's trade routes to new foreign jurisdictions to replace the economic ties lost after russia's invasion of Ukraine. In July 2023, USA imposed sanctions on 14 vessels, including the "Simushir", belonging to the fleet of the Sakhalin shipping company.