Marine vessels

The tanker during the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products, in particular, from russian ports in the Black Sea, and in deceptive, high-risk practices (turning off AIS, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea). The tanker called at the port of Komysh-Burun of the TOT of Ukraine in February 2015. The tanker makes frequent calls to the port of the russian Taman terminal of the LPG, crude oil and oil products transshipment complex. In April 2023, an STS transfer took place near Greece with the tanker IMO 9274434 (under USA and UK sanctions), affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the shadow fleet involved in the transportation of russian crude oil under Western sanctions, and the Gatik-related company Orion Ship Management LLP, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Plutos Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management LLP, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, 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. The tanker is affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE, under UK sanctions for its involvement in servicing the energy sector of the russian economy). Fractal Marine DMCC is considered to be one of the leading operators of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products under Western sanctions in 2022-2023. The shipping company Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE) was established shortly before the G7 countries introduced a price-cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products and played a significant role in the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products under sanctions. After the sanctions were imposed on Fractal Marine, DMCC tried to challenge the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, but lost in court. After that, the company 're-signed' its fleet to other companies. Thus, the tankers previously managed by Fractal Marine DMCC were transferred to new management companies, in particular, Zulu Ships Management (UAE). The vessels managed by Zulu Ships Management continue to export russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas. The tanker is managed by Zulu Ships Management, which also operates other tankers affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC - IMO 9433016, IMO 9387279, IMO 9336490, IMO 9332315, IMO 9328170, IMO 9298492, IMO 9282493, IMO 9282481, IMO 9252955, which call at russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, while tankers IMO 9332315 and IMO 9298492 also call at the port of Kamysh-Burun in the TOT of Crimea. The vessel, IMO 9388027, is part of a vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran. Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani uses corruption through his father's political influence at the highest levels of the Iranian regime to build and operate a huge fleet of tankers and container ships. This network transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profits. The Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani network consists of a huge fleet of ships, ship management firms and front companies that launder billions of dollars in profits from global sales of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, mostly to buyers in China. The network takes significant steps to disguise its operations and obfuscate its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia. BPT Shipping Co LLC (UAE), Fractal Marine DMCC (UAE), Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), The Zulu Ships Management and Operation - Sole Proprietorship LLC (UAE), with which the tanker IMO 9388027 is affiliated, are among the companies that have played a significant role in the management and operation of the Shamkhani tanker fleet. On July 30, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker IMO 9388027.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products using deceptive, high-risk practices in the Black Sea. The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT Crimea of Ukraine, in particular in March and May 2025 (ports Crimea, Komysh-Burun). The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned russian company Prime Shipping LLC, which provides ISM management of the vessel. On February 24, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. In June 2025, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is affiliated with the russian company Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания") – a designated entity under Ukrainian sanctions – which, within the framework of the russian state procurement system, has served as a supplier to the sanctioned Rosnefteflot JSC (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth a total of 94.4 million rubles. Rosnefteflot JSC is part of the corporate group of the sanctioned russian PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (ПАО "НК "Роснефть""), a state-owned oil and gas company and one of the largest oil producers in the world. The main activities of Rosnefteflot JSC include, in particular, chartering tanker tonnage for PJSC Rosneft Oil Company and organising river transportation in the interests of PJSC Rosneft Oil Company in the Volga– Don, Azov– Don, Volga and Volga– Baltic basins. The fleet of the vessel’s owning company includes other designated vessels. The tanker has been implicated in bunkering operations in the Kerch Strait area, has made port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Ukraine), and has systematically engaged in dark activity by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS) near russian ports in the Sea of Azov, as well as in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In September 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, the tanker bunkered the vessel IMO 9851127 and also bunkered the tanker IMO 9640554, the latter affiliated with the designated russian company Rosewood Shipping LLC (ООО "Роузвуд Шиппинг").

The tanker, over 50 years old, has been implicated in servicing (bunkering) vessels with russian affiliation engaged in grain theft schemes involving the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Ukraine, as well as tankers of the russian shadow fleet, particularly in the Kerch Strait area, including through deceptive shipping practices such as disabling the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and conducting dark activity in the Kerch Strait. In September 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, it bunkered the vessel IMO 9720263, which sails under the russian flag, is subject to U.S. sanctions, and has been involved in the export of Ukrainian grain from the port of Sevastopol (TOT of Crimea, Ukraine) to the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, Syria, and Yemen, with AIS switched off in line with a common pattern for concealing port calls to Ukrainian ports in TOT Ukraine. In August 2024, the tanker IMO 9224441 — affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot (ПАО "Совкомфлот"), the largest state-owned shipping company in russia engaged in servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, whose main charterers are russia’s largest oil and gas companies and traders — was bunkered in the Kerch Strait (for 5 hours). This tanker, in turn, has been involved in exporting russian crude oil to third countries from russian ports, including with AIS disabled, and in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of russian petroleum products in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea for further transport to third countries. In August 2024, it also bunkered the tanker IMO 9242223, considered part of the russian shadow fleet, which had called at a russian port where oil prices were consistently trading above the G7 price cap; this vessel was designated by the U.S. in January 2025. In June 2024, in the Kerch Strait area, it bunkered (for 4 hours) the tanker IMO 9198783, which was designated by the U.S. in January 2025 for its links to a sanctioned russian company operating in russia’s energy sector. The vessel is owned by Middle-Volga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "Средне-Волжская судоходная компания"), which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions and has acted as a supplier within the russian state procurement system to the sanctioned JSC Rosnefteflot (АО "Роснефтефлот") under at least two contracts worth 94.4 million rubles. JSC Rosnefteflot is part of the corporate group of the sanctioned PJSC NK Rosneft (ПАО "НК "Роснефть""), a russian state-owned oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest oil producers. The main activities of JSC Rosnefteflot include, in particular, chartering tanker fleet tonnage in the interests of PJSC NK Rosneft and organizing river transportation for PJSC NK Rosneft in the Volga–Don, Azov–Don, Volga, and Volga–Baltic basins. The fleet of the vessel’s owning company includes other sanctioned vessels.

The tanker during the period of the G7, EU oil embargo, price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports, as well as bunkering of russian vessels calling at the ports of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine (in particular, IMO 8852784, IMO 8419635, IMO 9902196, IMO 9875422, IMO 8951396, IMO 9584372). The tanker is actively engaged in dark activities near the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine, in the Kerch Strait, in the Sea of Azov, and calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine, in particular, in May 2025 at the port of Komysh-Burun. The tanker is owned and operated by the russian company Trinity Shipping LLC (TIN 7805318423), which specializes in air, sea, road, and rail transportation of general and groupage cargo. As of June 14, 2025, the company's fleet includes seven more oil tankers (IMO 9038969, IMO 9166314, IMO 9282986 (sanctioned since May 2025), IMO 9288930 (sanctioned since May 2025), IMO 9585912, IMO 9105140 (sanctioned since May 2025), IMO 9676230) sailing under the russian flag, including the tanker IMO 9676230, which, according to OFAC, was involved in oil supplies to Syria in 2016-2018, affiliated with the russian company Transpectrochart LLC (TIN 7825484443, under USA sanctions). Transpectrochart LLC is affiliated with the sanctioned russian company JSC Sovfracht, one of the largest independent freight forwarding companies in russia, which acts as a key node in the military transport network of russian cargo ships delivering north Korean weapons to russian military facilities for use in the war against Ukraine. Transpetrochart LLC is involved in the supply of jet fuel and oil products from the Feodosia oil depot to the Syrian port of Tartus to supply the russian troops in Syria, including the "Syrian squadron" of the russian navy. On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the carrying crude oil/petroleum products that originated in russia from russia to a third countries. From July 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting crude oil/petroleum products that originate in russia or are exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33). On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports, including through STS transfers with vessels with russian affiliation, in particular in the Kerch Strait area, using deceptive, high-risk practices (conducting dark activities in the Kerch Strait area, russian ports in the Black Sea). The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine (Komysh-Burun, Kerch), in particular in December 2024, March 2025. In March 2025, December 2024, multiple STS transfers took place in the area of Temryuk Bay in the Sea of Azov, the Kerch Strait with the tanker IMO 9224441, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas. The main 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. According to the United Against Nuclear Iran, the tanker was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and after the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine switched to the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products. On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is actively involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including with the use of deceptive practices, including in the Kerch Strait area. The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, in particular, in March 2025, it called at the port of Komysh-Burun (TOT of Crimea of Ukraine). Since August 2024, the current owner and commercial manager of the tanker is Omni Torrent Ltd, registered in the Seychelles at Suite 10, 3rd Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles, which is massively used for registration of shipping companies involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products. The previous owner and manager of the tanker was Hung Phat Maritime Trading from Vietnam, affiliated with the sanctioned tankers IMO 9223540, IMO 9284594, which, in turn, are affiliated with another company from Vietnam - 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. The technical manager of the vessel since August 2024 is Nautical Unity Shipmanagement (Azerbaijan). As of April 08, 2025, Nautical Unity Shipmanagement manages two more tankers, in addition to the IMO 9260275: IMO 9253076, IMO 9292838. The vessel IMO 9253076 from the Nautical Unity Shipmanagement fleet is classified by the international NGO Greenpeace as a shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world through the Baltic Sea, the Cadet Canal area in the Bay of Mecklenburg and threatening the environment. At the same time, the tanker IMO 9253076, currently managed by Nautical Unity Shipmanagement, is affiliated with Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Company Limited from Vietnam, which is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil, which is subject to USA sanctions, as well as Akara Navigation LLC (Azerbaijan), which until February 2025 was responsible for the technical management of the tanker. Akara Navigation LLC, in turn, managed the safety of two other shadow fleet vessels involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian oil, IMO 9233741, IMO 9262924, with the tanker IMO 9262924 identified by the International NGO Greenpeace as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. After the change of management, the tanker continues to make calls at russian ports with oil terminals. From July 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting crude oil/petroleum products that originate in russia or are exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33). On August 12, 2025, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Since March 2023, after the introduction of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker has been actively involved in the export of russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, including using deceptive, high-risk practices. The vessel resorts to conducting shadow activities, STS transmissions, in particular, in the area of the Kerch Strait, Russian ports in the Black Sea. In March 2025, an STS transfer took place in the Kerch Strait area with the tanker IMO 9224441, affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, russia's largest state-owned shipping company for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied 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. In January 2025, an STS transfer with tanker IMO 9252448 took place near the port of Malacca (Malaysia), and tanker IMO 9265885 arrived in the Malacca port area from the russian port of Novorossiysk. On December 31, 2024, an STS transfer took place near the russian port of Gelendzhik with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9299666, affiliated with the Indian company Caishan Ship Management, which is associated 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. The tanker makes calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, in particular, the port of Komysh-Burun (TOT Crimea of Ukraine). The tanker is affiliated with the Moldovan company MRK Shipmanagement SRL, which became the technical manager of the vessel in March 2023, while in February 2023 Prime Choice Navigation Ltd (IMO 6386805) became the owner and commercial manager of the tanker, registered in the Seychelles at Suite 10, 3rd Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles, which is widely used for registration of shipping companies involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products. Since August 2024, the technical management has been transferred to Voyage Guard Shipmanagement (Azerbaijan), while the owner/commercial manager has not changed. After the change of management, the tanker continues to call at russian ports with oil terminals. On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Since June 2023, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular, using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS and conducting dark activities, in particular, in the Kerch Strait area, STS transfers of wet cargo). The vessel calls at the ports of the TOT of Ukraine, in particular, it called at the port of Feodosia in January 2025. The tanker is affiliated with the Moldovan company FLC Shipmanagement SRL, which was the technical manager of the vessel from June 2023 to August 2024. Since August 2024, technical management has been transferred to Voyage Guard Shipmanagement LLC (Azerbaijan). As of April 07, 2025, the fleet of Voyage Guard Shipmanagement LLC consists of three oil tankers. In addition to IMO 9278064, the company's fleet includes tankers IMO 9183295 (management was transferred from the Moldovan company FLC Shipmanagement SRL), IMO 9265885 (management was transferred from the Moldovan company MRK Shipmanagement SRL). The owner/commercial manager of the tanker remains New Dawn Marine Corp, registered in the Seychelles, at an address that is widely used for registration of shipowners/managers of vessels involved in the sanctioned trade in russian crude oil/petroleum products. After the change of management, the tanker continues to call at Russian ports with oil terminals. On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker has made port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Kerch, Zaliv) and has systematically engaged in dark activity in the area of the Kerch Strait, the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine), and near russian ports in the Azov and Black Seas. It has been involved in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products. In the Kerch Strait area, it has conducted bunkering operations for the tanker IMO 9224441, which is likewise engaged in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products and is affiliated – in particular through the sanctioned Sun Ship Management and SCF Management Services Ltd – with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot (ПАО "Совкомфлот"), the largest state-owned shipping company in russia engaged in servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, as well as transporting russian crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas. The main charterers of Sovcomflot vessels are russia’s largest oil and gas companies and traders. The vessel’s technical manager is Rodnie Polya LLC (ООО "Родные поля"), which in 2025 was confiscated by the russian state due to non-compliance with russian legislation concerning foreign control over the company. Prior to its renaming, the company operated as RIF Trading House (Торговый дом "РИФ") and was one of the largest russian grain exporters, with a share of over 20% in the grain transshipment market at the seaport of Azov, and was therefore considered a strategic russian business entity. On 11 April 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the captain of the vessel IMO 8862935.

The tanker during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports, including the use of deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling AIS, conducting dark activities, making STS transmissions with russian affiliations). The tanker is involved in an established chain of supply of russian crude oil/petroleum products to third countries by conducting STS transmissions in the area near European countries, in particular, with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9247443, which has been in the area near Greece since July 2024, Cyprus, has been acting as a transshipment STS hub for russian crude oil/petroleum products, which are transported by tankers mainly from the russian ports of Tuapse, Novorossiysk, Taman crude oil/petroleum products transshipment complex for transshipment near European countries. The tanker makes calls at the ports of the TOT Crimea of Ukraine, in particular, in February 2025, it called at the port of Komysh-Burun. The tanker is affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, which in 2022-2023 was among the top players in the shadow tanker fleet involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products under Western sanctions, and Plutos Ship Management, an Indian company associated with Gatik Ship Management, which in 2023, together with Caishan Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Gaurik Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Girik Ship Management, Orion Ship Management, Zidan Ship Management, and other companies, was involved in a scheme to "juggle" vessels operated by Gatik Ship Management to avoid sanctions. Tankers operated by Gatik Ship Management and transferred to other companies continue to export russian crude oil/petroleum products. On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country. On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which will enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products from russian ports using deceptive practices (disabling AIS and conducting dark activities). In particular, in February 2023, the tanker was involved in the supply of a batch of marine diesel to the Kalamata region (Greece) from the russian port of Tuapse, the sender was Amur Trading FZCO, the recipient was Tejarinaft FZCO. The vessel called at the port of the TOT of Crimea of Ukraine in December 2024, February 2025 with AIS turned off. The tanker is also involved in bunkering ships of the shadow fleet. The vessel is affiliated with Maritas Fleet PVT LTD (India), which was the former ISM manager of the tanker. Maritas Fleet PVT LTD was founded in December 2022 in Mumbai. This company is associated with the ISM management of tankers affiliated with the sanctioned company Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE), which shortly before the price cap policy came into force acquired 18 oil tankers transporting russian sanctioned russian crude oil/petroleum products and was sanctioned by USA for violating the price cap.