Marine vessels

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Seas, and the Pacific region to India and China, in violation of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil. In particular, in March 2023, a tanker transported russian oil from the russian port of Taman to the EU countries (Laconikos Gulf, Greece). The vessel is certified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). The international non-governmental organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadowy fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. The tanker 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 Galena Ship Management, which is affiliated with Gatik, which in 2023, together with Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Caishan 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 operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions. Gatik Ship Management and Galena Ship Management were the previous managers of the tanker. 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.). 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. 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 January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic, Black seas, and the Pacific region, mainly to China, India, and other third countries. The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world through the Baltic Sea, the Kadetsky Canal area in the Mecklenburg Bay, and threatening the environment. The tanker is certified by the Indian regulator Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in exporting russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region to China and India, and resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal and conducting so-called 'dark activities' at sea. The vessel is certified by the Indian regulator Indian Register of Shipping (IACS). The vessel, through its related companies, including Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, SCF Management Services Cyprus, is affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, tthe largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and supports offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas. The major charterers of PJSC Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. PJSC Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others. After the sanctions were imposed, PJSC Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. According to expert estimates, the tankers 're-registered' by PJSC Sovcomflot to related companies are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas under Western sanctions. The shadow tanker fleet 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 environmental threats with significant economic costs to coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Seas, and the Pacific region, mainly to China and India, using high-risk practices, including disabling AIS and conducting dark activities in the Baltic Sea. The tanker called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly exceeding the price cap of $60 per barrel of russian oil. On September 17, 2024, the russian federal State Budgetary Institution 'Main Directorate of the Northern Sea Route' issued a permit for transit navigation along the Northern Sea Route from east to west for the AQUATICA vessel without ice class for the period until October 15, 2024. 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. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33) (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Seas, and the Pacific region, mainly to China, India, and Turkey. 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 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 January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025).

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region, mainly to India. The ice-class tanker is the second vessel in a series of new generation Aframax-size large-capacity tankers built to order by the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot at the sanctioned shipyard SSK Zvezda LLC. The construction was financed by the sanctioned VEB.rf. Upon completion of the construction, the vessel was chartered on a long-term basis (under a 20-year time charter agreement) by the sanctioned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company to provide sea transportation of russian export cargoes. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic, Black Sea, and Pacific regions, mainly to India. The vessel is owned and operated by the sanctioned russian company JSC Rosnefteflot, which is a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company, a russian state-owned oil and gas company, one of the world's largest oil producers. Rosnefteflot JSC carries out technical and commercial management of floating drilling rigs; technical and commercial management of the ice-class transport and towing fleet in Arctic conditions; technical and commercial management of the tanker fleet in Arctic waters; ensures the operation of the port fleet; provides services in the ports of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Vostochny, Primorskoe, Tuapse, Novorossiysk, Ust-Luga, and Primorsk. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is under construction for the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot at the sanctioned russian shipyard SSK Zvezda LLC. PJSC Sovcomflot is the largest state-owned shipping company in russia that services and supports offshore hydrocarbon production and the transportation of russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas. The main charterers of Sovcomflot's 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. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is a large-capacity vessel of unlimited navigation area built in 2024, of MR type with a deadweight of 50 thousand tons, dimensions - length 183 m, width 32.2 m. The tanker was built by a sanctioned russian shipyard, Zvezda Shipyard LLC, for the sanctioned russian company Sovcomflot under a contract with its subsidiary SCF Atlantic LLC. PJSC Sovcomflot is the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to russia after its full-scale invasion of 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. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is affiliated with the Vietnamese company Sao Viet Petrol Transportation 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 as a property in which Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Company Limited has an interest.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, the tanker is engaged in exporting russian crude oil/oil products to third countries from russian ports, in particular in the Black and Baltic Seas, in particular in violation of the embargo in March 2023 from a russian port in the Black Sea to the Lakonikos Gulf (Greece). 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. The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Agro Tanker Group LLC, 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 as a property in which Agro Tanker Group LLC has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian and russian crude oil/oil products. In particular, the vessel called at a russian port, where the price of oil was constantly trading above the upper limit set by the price cap on russian crude oil/oil products. The vessel is affiliated with Hong Kong Yongye Shipping 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 Hong Kong Yongye Shipping Limited has an interest.