Marine vessels

The tanker is designed for refueling (bunkering) cargo and passenger vessels with liquefied natural gas on a ship-to-ship basis. The vessel is part of the fleet of Gaspromneft Shipping LLC. Gaspromneft Shipping LLC is the shipowner and operator of Arctic tankers, icebreakers and bunkers of the sanctioned Gaspromneft Marine Bunker LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned Gazprom Neft PJSC, which is the operator of the bunker business of the sanctioned russian Gazprom Neft PJSC. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC has an interest.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region, mainly to China. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The services provided by Sovcomflot are a significant source of income for russia, 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 related 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 gas under western sanctions. 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).

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region to China. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation 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. 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 related 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 gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region, mainly to China. The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Stream Ship Management FZCO, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the 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. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which the sanctioned company Stream Ship Management FZCO (UAE) has an interest. On February 24, 2025, sanctions were imposed on the vessel by the United Kingdom and the EU (the EU sanctions entered into force on February 25, 2025). On March 04, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the tanker as a vessel associated with a sanctioned entity.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products, in particular to the EU countries, including through STS transfers in the area of the Caucasian anchorage near the Kerch Strait (an area associated with STS transfers with tankers sailing to/from Greece and Malta to/from a russian port in the Azov Sea). Thus, the tanker carried out transfers, in particular, with tankers belonging to the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products under sanctions: APUS (IMO 9280885, under USA sanctions) in December 2024, and UTAKI (IMO 9262924) in November 2023. The vessel is also affiliated with the sanctioned russian company Rosewood Shipping LLC (TIN 6167088540), a shipping company specializing in the logistics of oil products using its own fleet. The founder of Rosewood Shipping LLC is South Energy LLC (TIN 6167088571). The management company of Rosewood Shipping LLC is a sanctioned russian company, NZNP Management JSC (TIN 9725007881), which is affiliated with NZNP JSC (one of the largest suppliers of oil products in southern russia, TOT of Ukraine). On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the export of russian oil/oil products, including by making STS transmissions in the area of the Caucasian anchorage near the Kerch Strait. Thus, the tanker makes frequent calls to the anchorage area near the Kerch Strait, turns off AIS, and conducts STS transmissions in the area, including in January 2025 with the sanctioned tanker APUS (IMO 9280885), which belongs to the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian oil/oil products. The vessel is also affiliated with the sanctioned russian company Rosewood Shipping LLC (TIN 6167088540), a shipping company specializing in the logistics of oil products using its own fleet. The founder of Rosewood Shipping LLC is South Energy LLC (TIN 6167088571). The management company of Rosewood Shipping LLC is a sanctioned russian company, NZNP Management JSC (TIN 9725007881), which is affiliated with NZNP JSC (one of the largest suppliers of oil products in southern russia, TOT of Ukraine). On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The Aframax shuttle tanker of ice class 1C is designed to operate within the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project. The vessel's ice class allows it to provide cargo transportation from the port of De Kastry (Sea of Okhotsk) in year-round navigation. The tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian crude oil from russian ports in the Pacific region to China. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on a tanker associated with a sanctioned person as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet (the sanctions come into force on February 25, 2025). On March 04, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the tanker as a vessel associated with a sanctioned entity.

The tanker is involved in the export of sanctioned russian oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea, mainly to Brazil and other third countries, including the use of deceptive practices (disabling AIS). The vessel, through related companies, including the sanctioned Fornax Ship Management, Sun Ship Management, Oil Tankers SCF MGMT FZCO, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia, a key company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas amidst the application of sanctions restrictions to the russian federation 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. 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 related 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 gas under western sanctions. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 24, 2025, EU imposed sanctions on a tanker associated with a sanctioned person (the sanctions come into force on February 25, 2025). On March 04, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the tanker as a vessel associated with a sanctioned entity.

The tanker is designed for the transportation of gas condensate and oil products and is the lead vessel in a series of three MR-type product tankers using LNG as the main fuel. The order for the construction of the vessels at the sub-sanctioned Shipbuilding Complex Zvezda LLC was placed under a contract signed in 2019 with SCF Atlantic, a subsidiary of the sub-sanctioned Sovcomflot PJSC. The tankers are chartered to the sub-sanctioned company PJSC Novatek on the basis of long-term time charters. The project is financed by the sub-sanctioned VEB.rf. On January 10, 2025, USA applied sanctions to the vessel.

The second of a series of Arctic shuttle tankers of reinforced ice class with a deadweight of 70,000 tons, designed to operate at extremely low temperatures in difficult ice conditions on the Arctic shelves and intended for year-round sea transportation of crude oil from the Prirazlomnoye field. The tanker is involved in the transportation of crude oil from the Prirazlomnoye offshore oil field in the Pechora Sea (a stationary platform, which is the world's first ice-resistant Arctic-class oil platform), in particular to Murmansk, to the FSO UMBA floating storage tanker (IMO 9196620, under USA sanctions). The Prirazlomnoye Arctic offshore oil field is being developed by Gazprom Neft Shelf LLC (a 100% subsidiary of Gazprom Neft), which is the center for managing Gazprom Neft's offshore projects. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The fourth vessel in the series of Shturman Albanov vessels that transport oil year-round as part of the Novy Port project on the Northern Sea Route in the Gulf of Ob of sanctioned PJSC Gazprom. The Arc7 reinforced ice class tanker is capable of navigating 1.8 m thick ice, can move forward sternly to break heavier ice, can also move in shallow water, and can operate at temperatures down to minus 45 degrees. The vessel transports oil from the Arctic Gate offshore oil terminal on the Yamal Peninsula, in particular to Murmansk, to the FSO UMBA floating storage tanker (IMO 9196620, under USA sanctions). The Arctic Gate terminal is a specialized port on the coast of the Gulf of Ob, designed to export liquid hydrocarbons from the giant Novoportovskoye oil and gas condensate field, which is being developed by the sanctioned Gazprom Neft. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker was built specifically for the transportation of oil from the Prirazlomnoye field in the Pechora Sea to terminals in the Murmansk region. The Prirazlomnoye Arctic offshore oil field is being developed by the sanctioned Gazprom Neft Shelf LLC (a 100% subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Gazprom Neft), which is the center for managing Gazprom Neft's offshore projects. The tanker is involved in the transportation of oil from the Prirazlomnoye Arctic offshore oil field, in particular to Murmansk, to the floating storage tanker FSO UMBA (IMO 9196620, under USA sanctions), as well as to China. On January 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.