Marine Vessels

The vessel is owned by a sanctioned russian transport company, TK Northern Project LLC, which specialises in sea freight transport via the Northern Sea Route, provides year-round cargo delivery to the ports of the Far North and the Arctic coast, ensures cargo flow to Europe and Asia, and owns an unlimited dry cargo fleet of 7-12,000 dwt. tonnes, transports general, groupage, mixed and non-standard cargo, special machinery, equipment, containerised cargo, and is licensed to transport dangerous goods of all categories.
In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on TK Northern Project LLC over the transportation of weapons to russia by the company's vessels, and on 15 of the company's vessels, including the "Utrenniy".
On October 19, 2022, Ukraine imposed sanctions on TK Northern Project LLC.

The tanker is owned by the designated russian shipping company Marin Trans Shipping LLC (ООО "Марин Транс Шиппинг") and operated by the designated russian company MG-Flot LLC (ООО "МГ-Флот"), which is linked to Astrakhan businessman Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich Pashayev. Pashayev built his business around the Commercial Port of Olya in the Astrakhan region, a location proposed as a key logistics hub for the "North–South" International Transport Corridor, the creation and construction of which was overseen and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The primary purpose of the corridor was to facilitate trade with the designated Islamic Republic of Iran, enabling the import and export of goods via the "North–South" route.
Marin Trans Shipping LLC and MG-Flot LLC manage and operate a fleet that has been implicated in the transportation of North Korean weapons and ammunition for use by the russian federation in its war against Ukraine (including Angara, IMO 9179842, and others), as well as a fleet of tankers involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil (Inda, IMO 9256858, and others).
In May 2022, the US imposed sanctions on the vessel as property of Marine Trans Shipping LLC, a company involved in transporting weapons for russia.

The vessel is part of the fleet of the designated russian shipping company Transpetrochart LLC (ООО "Транспетрохарт"), which has been cited for providing material support to the designated company Sovfracht JSC (АО "Совфрахт") — one of the largest independent transport and forwarding companies in the russian federation and a key node in the military transport network of russian cargo vessels delivering North Korean weapons to military facilities. These shipments are subsequently transported to weapons depots on russia’s western border for use in the war against Ukraine.
Vessels operated by Transpetrochart LLC have been implicated in supplying aviation fuel to russian forces in Syria following the imposition of sanctions on Sovfracht JSC in September 2016.
In September 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel IMO 9025778.

The vessel is part of the fleet of the sanctioned russian shipping company Transpetrochart LLC (ООО "ТранспетроЧарт"), which has provided material support to the sanctioned company Sovfracht JSC (АО "Совфрахт") – one of the largest independent transport and forwarding companies in russia. Sovfracht functions as a key node in the military transport network of russian cargo vessels delivering North Korean weapons to military facilities, which are subsequently transported to weapons depots on russia’s western border for use in the war against Ukraine.
Vessels operated by Transpetrochart LLC have been involved in the supply of aviation fuel for russian forces in Syria following the imposition of sanctions on Sovfracht JSC in September 2016.
In September 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on the Passat.

The vessel is affiliated with the russian company MG-Flot LLC (formerly Transmorflot LLC).
MG-Flot LLC is associated with the Astrakhan businessman Pashayev Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich, who built his business around the commercial port of Olya in the Astrakhan region. This very place was proposed as a key logistic hub of the international transport corridor "North-South", the creation and construction of which was supervised and controlled by former russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The key purpose of the transportation corridor was trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route.
MG-Flot LLC is involved in the shipment of military cargo to and from Iran and the russian federation, as well as in the transport of russian and iranian crude oil/petroleum products subject to sanctions.
On May 23, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved in the export of russian coal from the rosterminalugol coal terminal in the port of Ust-Luga to the port of Eren (Turkey). Since December 2022, as part of the expansion of sanctions against the energy sector of the russian federation, the EU has banned imports of all types of russian coal. According to the CREA, from 05 December 2022 to the end of June 2024, China purchased 45% of all russian coal exports, India (18%), and South Korea (10%).

In February 2026, a vessel under the command of Master LITVINENKO SERGEI (russian citizen) transported over 4,000.0 metric tons of primary aluminum (HS Code 7601) from the port of Temryuk to Greece. The shipper of the aluminum cargo was AL PLUS GLOBAL DMCC (an aluminum trader affiliated with companies in the Rusal Group). In February 2025, with the adoption of the 16th sanctions package, the EU imposed a direct ban on the import of primary aluminum from russia into the EU.
In April 2026, a vessel under the command of Captain SMIRNOV MIKHAIL (russian citizen) transported coal (anthracite) belonging to JSC "Shakhtoupravlenie ‘Obukhovskaya’," which is subject to Ukrainian sanctions; the port of discharge was Giurgiulesti (Moldova).
The vessel is operated by Sarfo Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS (Turkey), which is affiliated with Raim Alekperov, who is also one of the beneficiaries of Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (Turkey).
Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi was registered on December 12, 1996, is based in Istanbul (Turkey), and specializes in the transportation of bulk, steel, and general/project cargo. The company operates a fleet of shallow-draft dry cargo ships and tankers, provides operational and technical management of its fleet, and offers agency services in the Bosphorus Strait and major Turkish ports.
Alekperov’s business is closely tied to russia: for many years, vessels from his companies’ fleet have carried out regular cargo transportation between Turkey and russia in the Black Sea.
The vessel FITBURG (IMO 9250397) belongs to the fleet of Alekperov’s companies—Sarfo Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS and Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi. On December 31, 2025, the vessel FITBURG (IMO 9250397) was detained by the Finnish Coast Guard on suspicion of damaging an underwater telecommunications cable belonging to Elisa between Finland and Estonia. According to the investigation, the vessel was moving with its anchor lowered, dragging along the seabed. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation classifies the case as intentional property damage and obstruction of telecommunications. The attorney for the vessel’s owner in the case of the detention of the FITBURG (IMO 9250397) is Herman Ljungberg, who also served as the lawyer for the company that owns the russian shadow fleet tanker EAGLE S, suspected of severing the Estlink 2 cables between Estonia and Finland with its anchor on December 25, 2024. There were 14 crew members on board the FITBURG (IMO 9250397)—citizens of russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. On January 11, 2026, the Helsinki District Court arrested one of the crew members of the FITBURG, and several other sailors were prohibited from leaving Finnish territory.

During the period when Western sanctions are in effect, the vessel is involved in russian seaborne coal exports, particularly from the ports of Yeysk and Novorossiysk.
The vessel regularly calls at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in November and December 2025, and January and February 2026, at the port of Kerch.
The vessel is operated by Sarfo Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS (Turkey) and Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (Turkey), both of which are affiliated with Raim Alekperov. Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi was registered on December 12, 1996, is based in Istanbul (Turkey), and specializes in the transportation of bulk, steel, and general/project cargo. The company operates a fleet of shallow-draft dry cargo ships and tankers, provides operational and technical management of its fleet, and offers agency services in the Bosphorus Strait and major Turkish ports.
Alekperov’s business is closely tied to russia: for many years, vessels from his companies’ fleet have carried out regular cargo transportation between Turkey and russia in the Black Sea. At the same time, Alekperov’s fleet contributes to the advancement of russia’s interests in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine—a significant portion of the fleet frequently calls at ports in the TOT of Ukraine, including the ports of Krym, Komysh-Burun, Kerch, and Mariupol.
The vessel FITBURG (IMO 9250397) belongs to the fleet of Alekperov’s companies—Sarfo Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS and Albros Denizcilik Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi. On December 31, 2025, the vessel FITBURG (IMO 9250397) was detained by the Finnish Coast Guard on suspicion of damaging an underwater telecommunications cable belonging to Elisa between Finland and Estonia. According to the investigation, the vessel was moving with its anchor lowered, dragging along the seabed. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation classifies the case as intentional property damage and obstruction of telecommunications. The attorney for the vessel’s owner in the case of the detention of the FITBURG (IMO 9250397) is Herman Ljungberg, who also served as the lawyer for the company that owns the russian shadow fleet tanker EAGLE S, suspected of severing the Estlink 2 cables between Estonia and Finland with its anchor on December 25, 2024. There were 14 crew members on board the FITBURG (IMO 9250397)—citizens of russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. On January 11, 2026, the Helsinki District Court arrested one of the crew members of the FITBURG, and several other sailors were prohibited from leaving Finnish territory.

The vessel is involved in the maritime export of russian coal in circumvention of sanctions.
Specifically, in February 2026, a ship under the command of master ILGAR MIRZAYEV (Azerbaijani citizen) transported over 1,854 tons of coal from the port of Kavkaz to the port of Giurgiulesti (Moldova). The shipper of the coal cargo is the russian company JSC "UK "RAZREZ STEPNOY" (TIN 1903021363), which has been subject to U.S. sanctions since January 10, 2025, and Ukrainian sanctions since October 19, 2022.
In addition, in March 2026, the vessel, under the command of master ILGAR MIRZAYEV, transported a cargo of urea from the port of Tuapse. The shipper of the cargo is the "PMU" branch of JSC "UNITED CHEMICAL COMPANY "URALCHEM." JSC "UNITED CHEMICAL COMPANY "URALCHEM" (TIN 7703647595) is subject to Ukrainian sanctions and produces ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate, and other dual-use chemical compounds—for agriculture and the production of explosives.

During the period when Western sanctions are in effect, the vessel is involved in russian seaborne coal exports, particularly from the port of Kavkaz.

The vessel is involved in transporting russian coal in circumvention of sanctions.
In March 2026, the vessel transported nearly 79,600 tons of coal from the port of Taman to Turkey. Specifically, the shipper of over 19,600 tons of coal was the russian company JSC Russian Coal (TIN 7705880068), which has been subject to U.S. sanctions since January 10, 2025, and Ukrainian sanctions since August 8, 2025; over 22,600 tons of coal were shipped by the russian company JSC "Atrium" (TIN 4217210272), which has been subject to Ukrainian sanctions since November 2025.

During the period when Western sanctions are in effect, the vessel is involved in russian seaborne coal exports from the russian ports of Taman and Vanino to China, India, and Turkey.