Marine vessels

It makes regular calls to/from the ports of the TOT of Crimea (Sevastopol, Kerch), in particular, on 23 January 2024 the tanker entered the Sevastopol Bay, on 21 March 2024, the tanker entered Sevastopol Bay with its AIS signal switched off (according to AIS data, the vessel arrived from the russian port of Temryuk).

It calls at the ports of Crimea (Ukraine) with the AIS signal turned off. In particular, on 13 March 2024, the vessel entered Sevastopol Bay with the AIS signal switched off to conceal its entry into the closed port of the TOT of Crimea. To avoid sanctions, the vessel's AIS signal has been switched off since 13 October 2023. Back in July 2012, the vessel was arrested by Georgia for calling at the russian-occupied port of Sukhumi (Abkhazia).

It calls at the ports of Crimea (Ukraine), a cargo transshipment area in the Kerch Strait. In particular, on 04 June 2024, the vessel was in the temporarily occupied closed port of Sevastopol, the AIS system was switched off during the port call. The vessel is owned and operated by Nika Shipping LLC, a company established under russian law in April 2023 and registered in the TOT of Donetsk region (Donetsk).

It is involved in the supply of jet fuel and other important cargo to the Middle East (to the group of Russian troops in Syria in the interests of the russian Ministry of Defence), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (in particular, the port of Crimea). In 2024, three tankers ‘Azov’ (IMO 8943260), ‘Koysug’ (IMO 8883252), and ‘Nizami Ganjavi’ (IMO 9369617) were added to the list of vessels used by the russian federation to make covert deliveries to Syria in the interests of the russian ministry of defence. During 2024, the vessels were repeatedly used by the russian federation to carry out maritime transportation from the black sea ports of the russian federation to Syria under the traditional scheme of concealing entries/exits to/from ports in Syria by switching off their transponders in the Mediterranean north or south of Cyprus. Aviation fuel and diesel were supplied to Syria from russian ports (Azov port), petrol - from Iran. Such steps were taken by Russia after the successful attacks in 2023 by the Ukrainian Defence Forces against the russian tanker ‘Sig’ in the Black Sea, which was carrying out sea transport to Syria to supply jet fuel to the russian troops in Syria.

It is involved in the supply of jet fuel and other important cargo to the Middle East (to the group of Russian troops in Syria in the interests of the russian Ministry of Defence), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (in particular, the port of Crimea). In 2024, three tankers ‘Azov’ (IMO 8943260), ‘Koysug’ (IMO 8883252), and ‘Nizami Ganjavi’ (IMO 9369617) were added to the list of vessels used by the russian federation to make covert deliveries to Syria in the interests of the russian ministry of defence. During 2024, the vessels were repeatedly used by the russian federation to carry out maritime transportation from the black sea ports of the russian federation to Syria under the traditional scheme of concealing entries/exits to/from ports in Syria by switching off their transponders in the Mediterranean north or south of Cyprus. Aviation fuel and diesel were supplied to Syria from russian ports (Azov port), petrol - from Iran. Such steps were taken by Russia after the successful attacks in 2023 by the Ukrainian Defence Forces against the russian tanker ‘Sig’ in the Black Sea, which was carrying out sea transport to Syria to supply jet fuel to the russian troops in Syria.

It is involved in the supply of jet fuel and other important cargo to the Middle East (to the group of Russian troops in Syria in the interests of the russian Ministry of Defence), and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine (in particular, the port of Crimea). In 2024, three tankers ‘Azov’ (IMO 8943260), ‘Koysug’ (IMO 8883252), and ‘Nizami Ganjavi’ (IMO 9369617) were added to the list of vessels used by the russian federation to make covert deliveries to Syria in the interests of the russian ministry of defence. During 2024, the vessels were repeatedly used by the russian federation to carry out maritime transportation from the black sea ports of the russian federation to Syria under the traditional scheme of concealing entries/exits to/from ports in Syria by switching off their transponders in the Mediterranean north or south of Cyprus. Aviation fuel and diesel were supplied to Syria from russian ports (Azov port), petrol - from Iran. Such steps were taken by Russia after the successful attacks in 2023 by the Ukrainian Defence Forces against the russian tanker ‘Sig’ in the Black Sea, which was carrying out sea transport to Syria to supply jet fuel to the russian troops in Syria.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil to third countries, in systematic violations of the G7+ oil embargo on russian oil in 2023-2024, in particular in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Black Sea to the Laconikos Gulf, to the west of the island of Kithira. The vessel calls at the ports of the Crimean TOT of Ukraine. The vessel is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management and the Turkish company Unic Tanker Gemi Isletmeciligi, which is affiliated with Gatik. In 2022, the Indian company Gatik Ship Management became the largest carrier of russian oil and was used to operate the russian 'shadow' fleet under sanctions. On December 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel in connection with the transportation of oil or oil products originating in russia or from russia to a third country.  On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports to third countries using deceptive, high-risk practices, and calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on a vessel that considered as a part of the shadow fleet.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, the tanker ss involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Seas, and Pacific regions. The vessel called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly trading above the price cap. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. The vessel is affiliated with Noblefu Company Limited, which was sanctioned by USA on January 10, 2025 for its activities in the energy sector of the russian economy. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel, which is considered to be part of the shadow fleet, as a property in which Noblefu Company Limited has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Black and Azov Seas, mainly to Turkey, using deceptive practices (disabling AIS, spoofing), including in the Kerch Strait, and calls at ports in the TOT of Crimea, in particular, the port of Feodosia. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas to third countries, and makes calls to the ports of the TOT of Ukraine. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Azov and Black Seas, mainly to Turkey and Egypt, uses deceptive practices (AIS shutdown, spoofing), including in the Kerch Strait area, calls at the port of Crimea (a port on the shore of the Kerch Strait, located near the village of Zhukovka, is part of the Kerch ferry service (the line from the port of Crimea to the port of Kavkaz), in 2014-2015 the port was dredged, which increased the capacity of the line), the port of Kerch in the TOT of Crimea. The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (under Ukrainian sanctions), which is a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (at least under two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles) within the russian state procurement system. Rosnefteflot JSC is a part of the group of the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, a russian state-owned oil and gas company, one of the world's largest oil producers. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC are, in particular, the chartering of the tanker fleet for the benefit of Rosneft, organization of river transportation in the interests of Rosneft in the Volga-Don, Azov-Don, Volga and Volga-Baltic basins. The owner and manager of the vessel is the Maltese company Hai Ocean Shipping Co Ltd, which is associated, in particular, with russian citizen Mikhail Slobodov as one of the two owners of the company.