Marine Vessels

The vessel is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China. Since mid-2024, the tanker has transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China, including STS transportation with the sanctioned vessel IMO 9197832, which was sanctioned by USA on September 25, 2024 for transporting Iranian oil for the benefit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On May 08, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on tanker IMO Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9197832. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The VLCC-class tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian, Venezuelan, and russian crude oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9283801. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
Between December 2023 and May 2024, russia used the vessel IMO 9283801 to transport russian crude oil to third countries via STS transfers of wet cargo.
On April 16, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on a tanker for transporting Iranian oil to refineries in China, which provide vital multibillion-dollar revenues for the Iranian regime and its allies.

On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for engaging in activities conducted on behalf of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Leveraging his father’s political influence, Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani has corrupted senior Iranian regime officials to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network comprises a large fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front entities that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from global sales of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9248485. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian, russian, and Venezuelan crude oil/petroleum products.
In January 2025, the tanker exported russian wet cargo from the russian port of Ust-Luga to Singapore.
The vessel is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil, including more than 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil during STS transshipment in the EOPL area of Singapore from the sanctioned tanker IMO 9284582, which loaded this cargo on the island of Kharg (Iran).
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9247986. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On November 20, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

Hong Kong-based Hozdra Group Limited owns and operates the VLCC-class oil tanker IMO 9222443.
Since Hozdra Group Limited acquired ownership of the vessel in 2025, the tanker has delivered approximately 6 million barrels of Iranian crude oil to the PRC, obtained from sanctioned vessels.
On October 9, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on Hozdra Group Limited for its activities in the Iranian oil sector, as well as on the tanker IMO 9222443.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9222443. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. In September 2025, the vessel transported more than 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9294240. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On October 9, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker was involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil/petroleum products, in particular to Syria and China. The vessel is linked to a network smuggling Iranian crude oil, which was financed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah. The network was coordinated by Viktor Artemov (under US sanctions since November 2022).
On November 3, 2022, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.
The vessel is also part of a large-scale shadow oil trading scheme between Venezuela and Cuba.
On December 10, 2025, the US Coast Guard boarded and arrested the tanker IMO 9304667 as it was sailing in international waters after departing from Venezuela. The tanker left the Venezuelan port on December 4, 2025, with 2 million barrels of oil from Venezuela's state oil company, known as PDVSA, on board. The ship's destination was listed as the Cuban port of Matanzas. Two days after departure, tanker IMO 9304667 transferred approximately 50,000 barrels to vessel IMO 9198666, which then headed towards Cuba, while tanker IMO 9304667 headed east towards Asia. It is likely that most of its cargo was intended for sale to the PRC. Most of the 30-member crew of the ship IMO 9304667 were russian citizens.
The seizure of the vessel IMO 9304667 was carried out by the Internal Security Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation after the US Coast Guard boarded the tanker.
On December 12, 2025, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia obtained a warrant for the arrest of the vessel IMO 9304667.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Venezuelan oil.
In June 2025, the vessel loaded and delivered Venezuelan oil to Asia. The tanker manipulated its AIS to conceal its location and cargo of Venezuelan oil.
On December 11, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Venezuelan oil.
In October 2025, the vessel loaded oil in Venezuela. The tanker uses deceptive shipping practices to conceal its location — either by not transmiting its location or by transmitting a false location.
On December 11, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil/oil products.
The vessel is involved in the transportation of sanctioned cargo on behalf of the Lebanon-based company Concepto Screen SAL Off-Shore, which is owned by Hizballah.
On June 10, 2024, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.
The tanker is involved in the transportation of Venezuelan crude oil/petroleum products. In December 2025, the tanker IMO 9230880, flying the Panamanian flag, attempted to approach the coast of Venezuela despite the US blockade. The US Coast Guard tried to stop the tanker, but the crew (citizens of russia, Ukraine, and India) refused to comply with the Coast Guard's demands and abruptly changed course. The crew painted the flags of the russian federation on the ship's hull, and a few days later, the tanker was renamed from Bella 1 to Marinera and registered in the russian maritime register. From December 15, 2025, the ship spent two weeks trying to evade US Coast Guard control in the Atlantic Ocean. The russian Navy attempted to escort the tanker, including with the participation of a submarine, but on January 7, 2026, US Coast Guard forces in the North Atlantic (south of Iceland) boarded the tanker and took control of it in international waters.

The tanker is affiliated with Aries Global Investment LTD (Hong Kong), which was sanctioned by the US on December 31, 2025, for its activities in Venezuela's oil sector.
On December 31, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the vessel for transporting Venezuelan oil and assisting the Maduro regime in circumventing sanctions.

The tanker, during the period of the oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil and petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil from russian ports on the Baltic Sea to third countries.
In particular, in March 2024, the vessel exported russian Urals crude oil from the port of Primorsk to India in the interests of PJSC Oil Company "Rosneft".
The vessel also transported Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil / petroleum products.
On February 12, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.