Marine Vessels

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.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The VLCC tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian, Venezuelan, and russian crude oil.
In particular, the vessel is involved in STS transshipments from tankers carrying sanctioned Iranian or Venezuelan crude oil at anchorages near Malaysia and China.
The tanker was purchased from DHT Tankers and is affiliated with an anonymous Chinese buyer who spent approximately $376 million to acquire a group of 13 tankers for high-risk transportation of russian crude oil in the Atlantic Ocean. Among these 13 tankers are seven VLCC vessels, five Aframax vessels, and one Suezmax vessel. The vessels were purchased by an anonymous buyer through 20 separate but interrelated one-ship shell companies from Hong Kong and China.
Subsequently, all but one of the tankers were involved in transshipment of wet cargoes in international waters, in areas 860 nautical miles west of Portugal.
The registered owners, commercial managers, and technical managers of this group of tankers have almost identical registration addresses in Dalian (PRC) and two identical addresses in Hong Kong.
This group of tankers is considered a hub for the transshipment of russian crude oil to the PRC in the mid-Atlantic.
Logistical STS hubs allow to hide the ownership and origin of cargo.
The tanker, considered to be part of the shadow fleet, is affiliated with SUNNE CO LIMITED, which was sanctioned by the US on January 10, 2025, for its activities in the russian energy sector.
On January 10, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which SUNNE CO LIMITED has an interest.
Since September 12, 2025, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions as part of restrictions on the russian shadow fleet.
In November 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On January 7, 2026, the US military (US Southern Command) intercepted and detained tanker IMO 9289477 in international waters in the Caribbean Sea. At the time of detention, the tanker was fully loaded with approximately 1.8-2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil of the Merey grade. At the time of detention, the tanker was also listed as "stateless" due to its sanctioned status. As of January 10, 2026, the vessel was heading for the US coast under the escort of the US Coast Guard.

The tanker (VLCC class) is engaged in the illegal transportation of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of sanctioned Iranian oil on behalf of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil, and the sanctioned China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned by USA in late 2019 for violating restrictions on the handling and transaction of Iranian oil. Iran relies on an extensive network of tankers and ship management companies in many jurisdictions to transport its oil to consumers, using deceptive tactics (falsification of documentation, manipulation of ship tracking systems, constant changes of names and flags of vessels).
The tanker is affiliated with Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd (China), which was sanctioned by USA on December 03, 2024 for its activities in the oil sector of the Iranian economy.
On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9326055.
In March 2025, the US imposed a 25% tariff on countries importing Venezuelan oil. As part of Operation Southern Spear in December 2025, the US imposed a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering/leaving Venezuelan ports. As part of the blockade, the US detained several tankers off the coast of Venezuela in December 2025 and early January 2026. At the same time, at least 16 tankers left Venezuelan waters in an attempt to avoid the naval blockade by the US Navy. The vessels, most of which were loaded with Venezuelan crude oil/petroleum products, left Venezuelan territorial waters with their AIS signals turned off, falsifying their coordinates to conceal their actual location. Among the 16 tankers, 15 vessels are under sanctions for transporting Iranian and russian crude oil/petroleum products.
According to satellite images, tanker IMO 9326055 was tracked about 30 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The vessel used the name "DS Vector" (IMO 9203289, which was scrapped in 2018) and transmitted a false AIS signal, creating the illusion of its presence near the West African coast. The tanker likely loaded Venezuelan oil in circumvention of US sanctions and left Venezuela's main oil terminal, Puerto Jose, heading northeast.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian crude oil to China worth more than $100 million on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including from storage facilities in China, which is believed to be part of an organized scheme that involves the Iranian military, which profits from the sale of Iranian oil through the vessel. The vessel resorts to deceptive, high-risk practices.
On February 06, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9237632. 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.

During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, the VLCC tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products via STS transfers. The tanker is also involved in the transportation of Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil / petroleum products (Jose terminal).
The vessel received crude oil through STS operations from three Aframax tankers in Morocco, two of which are affiliated with the sanctioned company One Moon Marine Services, which ensured the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products through its fleet.
In August 2024, the tanker carried out an STS transfer in the Gwangyang anchorage area (South Korea) with the sanctioned tanker IMO 9301407, affiliated with the sanctioned russian 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 natural 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.
Since February 25, March 4, 2025, the EU and Switzerland respectively have imposed sanctions on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices, as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33) (on July 18, 2025, the EU amended the sanctions).

The VLCC tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian oil, as well as in the export of russian oil/petroleum products during the G7+ oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products.
On 13 March 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Turquoise Sea Marine Limited (Seychelles), the owner of the tanker, for its activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. On the same date, the United States imposed sanctions on the tanker as property in which Turquoise Sea Marine Limited has an interest.
Since December 25, 2025, the owner and manager of the large-tonnage tanker has been the russian company Burevestmarin LLC, established in July 2025. The director and sole owner of the company is Ilya Bugay, an entrepreneur from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, Ukraine. The company also became the owner of two other tankers:
MARINERA IMO 9230880 (under US sanctions), detained on January 7, 2026, by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic south of Iceland. The vessel was detained after a two-week pursuit in the Atlantic after it evaded inspection in the Caribbean Sea. As of January 15, 2026, the tanker is under US control and has been delivered to Moray Firth (Scotland, UK);
GALLILEO IMO 9256860 (under US sanctions), detained on January 15, 2026, in the Caribbean Sea as part of Operation Southern Spear by marines and sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on charges of violating the US naval blockade and sanctions against Venezuela, as well as transporting Venezuelan oil.
As of January 15, 2026, the tanker IMO 9153525 last transmitted its coordinates on January 1, 2026, while anchored in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Aruba.

The tanker was used by the oil broker Petronix Energy Trading Limited (Hong Kong) to transport and further deliver to China hundreds of metric tons of Iranian oil purchased from Naftiran Intertrade Company, which is the marketing arm of the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Iran relies on brokers outside of Iran to facilitate the sale and transport of its crude oil to end users abroad, largely in the UAE and China.
The tanker is affiliated with Alkonost Maritime DMCC (UAE), which was sanctioned by USA on February 24, 2025 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction in the purchase, acquisition, sale, transportation or marketing of crude oil or petroleum products or petrochemicals from Iran.
On February 24, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as a property in which the sanctioned company Alkonost Maritime DMCC has an interest.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9271406. 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.

In January 2025, tanker IMO 9227479 carried out an STS transfer near Malaysia with tanker IMO 9238052, which was subject to US sanctions in January 2025 as a tanker considered part of the shadow fleet, calling at a russian port where the price of oil was consistently trading above the price cap for russian oil. After this transfer, the vessel IMO 9238052 entered a Chinese port.
The tanker is affiliated with Delta Ships Management Ltd, which was the commercial manager of the vessel from March 2023 to October 2024. Delta Ships Management Ltd has been managing the sanctioned tanker IMO 9319674 since mid-2023, affiliated with the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, which played a key role in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products under western sanctions in 2022-2023.

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.