Marine vessels

The vessel is involved in the transportation of ammunition and Shahed-136/131-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – including their parts, components, and materials – from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea, while engaging in AIS (Automatic Identification System) dark activity. From Tehran, the UAVs are transported to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are shipped across the Caspian Sea to the port of Makhachkala (russia). From there, they are transported by air and land to UAV launch airfields located near the borders of Ukraine – Seshcha (Bryansk region) in the north and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Krasnodar region) in the south. The vessel engages in deceptive shipping practices, including manipulation or misreporting of cargo load data. On certain voyages, the loading and unloading ports could not be identified. AIS transmissions are regularly disabled near ports, resulting in unrecorded port calls. The vessel is owned by the designated russian shipping company Dalir LLC (ООО "Далир"), based in Astrakhan and operating in the Caspian Sea. Dalir LLC has been involved in transporting military cargo for delivery to Iranian military recipients on behalf of the designated russian entity Rosoboronexport JSC (АО "Рособоронэкспорт"), the sole state intermediary agency responsible for the export and import of the full range of military, defence, and dual-use goods, technologies, and services. In February and September 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively, imposed sanctions on the vessel. On 21 February 2025, Canada imposed sanctions as well.

It is involved in the transportation of weapons, including from Syria to russia through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. In particular, after the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in April 2022, the ship was recorded by a speed spotter in the Bosphorus with military equipment on board, in August 2022, the vessel provided the transfer of weapons, including S-300 air defense systems from Syria to the russian port of Novorossiysk, probably for use in the war against Ukraine. It is involved in the transportation of some military equipment from the russian naval base in Tartus (Syria) to Libya after the fall of the Assad regime. Thus, the vessel left the russian naval base in Baltiysk on December 13, 2024, and was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea in the Tunisian EEZ on January 06, 2025. The vessel plans to arrive at the port of Tartus on January 08, 2025. The vessel is a multifunctional vessel with horizontal and vertical loading and unloading capabilities, designed for the transportation of rolling equipment, trailers and semi-trailers, transportation of cargo in containers, and general cargo. The vessel has two lower holds with a total cargo deck length of 70.7 m and a width of 15.6 m, a twin deck deck with a length of 109.3 m and a width of 15.2 m, and one open upper deck with a length of 96.2 m and a width of 15.6 m. The vessel's cargo spaces can carry loaded containers of up to 213 TEU or empty containers of up to 783 TEU. The vessel has the capacity to connect 40 refrigerated containers. In addition, the vessel can carry up to 20 units of standard road trains up to 17 meters long. Since November 2022, the vessel has been involved in the transportation of containers, rolling equipment, and general cargo on the Ust-Luga - Baltiysk - Kaliningrad container line. On July 05, 2024, the vessel resumed operations on the line under the management of the russian sanctioned Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a russian shipping company that operates as part of the military construction complex of the russian Ministry of defense. the main tasks of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian Ministry of defense in the transportation, storage and production of military and special purpose goods, the company is the sole provider of transportation services for the Ministry of defense of russia, transporting troops to certain regions of russia, delivering goods to the temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on three vessels, including the Sparta II, affiliated with the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC.

The vessel has been involved in the regular transportation of military cargo and personnel from Novorossiysk (russia) to Tartus (Syria) and back, and is also believed to have transported such cargo from Tartus to ports in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Ukraine). It has also been involved in the transport of ilmenite to the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine for the russian-seized Crimean Titan, operating on the Novorossiysk (russia) – Tartus (Syria) route. Since late 2023, the vessel has been reassigned from the Novorossiysk– Tartus route to the St. Petersburg– Kaliningrad container ferry line. On 28 July 2023, the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Transport of the russian federation issued a licence authorising the vessel to carry all categories of dangerous goods, including radioactive cargo (hazard class 7). The vessel is equipped with additional specialised equipment, and certain crew members have undergone specialised training. The dry cargo vessel’s design is fully suitable for the carriage of all hazard classes, including radioactive materials. It has a deck for containers and general cargo, and two holds – one fitted for the transport of spent nuclear fuel. In May 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on the Pizhma, then owned by the designated russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC (ООО "СК-Юг"), a subsidiary of the designated russian company Oboronlogistika LLC (ООО "Оборонлогистика"). Oboronlogistika LLC operates as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence, with its main functions being to provide transportation, storage, and production of military and special-purpose goods for the ministry. It is the sole provider of transport services for the russian ministry of defence, moving troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to the TOT of Crimea (Ukraine). Since July 2023, the vessel has been owned by the russian shipping company Obl-Shipping LLC (ООО "Обл-Шиппинг"), which is part of the Oboronlogistika group.

It is involved in the transportation of military cargo and military personnel from Novorossiysk (russia) to Tartus (Syria), and back, and allegedly from Tartus to the ports of the TOT Crimea (Ukraine). The vessel is involved in the russian so-called rescue group, accompanied by the russian large amphibious assault ships 'ivan gren' and 'aleksandr otrakovsky', to transport some military equipment from the russian naval base in tartus (Syria) to Libya after the fall of the Assad regime. On the territory of the base in Tartus, there are, in particular, mercenaries of the "African Corps" controlled by the russian ministry of defense. Chief of Staff of the 121st Brigade of Landing Ships of the russian aggressor fleet, captain 1st rank yuri albertovich davitian is on board the otrakovsky. On December 11, 2024, Sparta left the russian naval base in Baltiysk, and on January 05, 2025, it was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea in the Syrian EEZ. On January 05, 2025, the vessel was supposed to arrive at a Syrian port, but as of the morning of January 07, 2025, it sails off the coast of Syria, probably waiting for permission to enter the port of Tartus from the new Syrian authorities. The vessel is involved in the Ust-Luga-Baltic container ferry (transportation of containers, rolling equipment, general cargo). It belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates as part of the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the ministry of defence of russia, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering goods to the temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on Sparta as a property of SK-Yug LLC.

It is involved in the transportation of military equipment for the russian troops in Syria The vessel belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-South LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. OOO Oboronlogistika. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates within the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the russian ministry of defence, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, USA imposed sanctions on "Ursa Major" as a property of SK-South LLC. After a long period of work in the Caspian Sea to provide transportations between the ports of russia and Iran, in September 2023 completed the passage to the Azov-Black Sea basin, where it was without AIS signal. The vessel made calls at the port of Taurus (Syria) using an AIS disconnection scheme to conceal destinations. While making voyages to Syria, passed the Bosphorus Strait without waiting. In accordance with established practice, vessels wait for their turn to pass for a certain period of time. This is only possible with prior agreement with representatives of the Turkish maritime administration The russian federation continues to use cargo vessels to move cargo, including military cargo, through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. During 2022-2023, these straits were crossed by russian cargo vessels affiliated with Oboronlogistika LLC, namely: "Sparta IV", "Ursa Major", "Sparta II". These vessels were travelling along the routes Novorossiysk Port (russia) - Bosphorus - Dardanelles - Tartus Port (Syria). Since March 2024, the vessel has been sailing between the ports of Baltiysk - Kronstadt - St Petersburg. On December 24, 2024, the vessel Ursa Major sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in the engine room, 14 crew members were rescued, two went missing. According to ship tracking data, the Ursa Major left the port of St. Petersburg on December 11, 2024, and was scheduled to arrive in Vladivostok on January 22, 2025. According to the captain, at the time of the accident, the ship was carrying empty containers, while a few days before the sinking, the press service of the russian "Oboronlogistika" announced that the Ursa Major was being sent to the Far East with "a large project cargo as part of the implementation of state tasks for the development of port infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route", the ship was loaded with port cranes weighing 380 tons each, necessary for the expansion of the terminal in Vladivostok, and 45-ton hatch covers for new icebreakers.

The vessel belongs to the sanctioned russian shipping company SK-Yug LLC, a subsidiary of the sanctioned russian company Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC. Oboronlogistika LLC is a shipping company that operates within the military construction complex of the russian ministry of defence. The main objectives of Oboronlogistika LLC are to meet the needs of the russian ministry of defence in the transportation, storage and production of military and special-purpose goods. Oboronlogistika LLC is the sole provider of transport services for the russian ministry of defence, transporting troops to certain regions of russia and delivering cargo to temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine). In May 2022, the U.S. imposed sanctions on vessel as a property of SK-Yug LLC. Engaged by russia for important maritime logistics operations since 2018. The design, certification and capabilities of the Sparta IV make it an excellent transit vessel for large military equipment. Its volumetric payload capacity, two cranes capable of lifting up to 55 tonnes and overall displacement mean the vessel can easily transport heavy military cargo such as the T-90 tanks deployed in Syria. In 2023, the vessel made at least 6 voyages between the military ports of Tartus, Syria and Novorossiysk, russia: 14-25 January, 01-06 March, 8-15 April, 16-25 May, 25 June-15 July (reportedly unloading military equipment at the port of Novorossiysk), and 10 August. On each of these voyages, the Sparta IV only called at terminals of the russian naval base. Among the cargoes carried could be missiles for the S-300 SAM system, which is regularly used to shell Kharkiv and frontline Ukrainian cities. Thus "Sparta IV", heading from Syria to the port of Novorossiysk with heavy cargo, on the night of Sunday 05.03.2023 passed the Bosphorus Strait with probably the mentioned missiles on board. The vessel was loaded at the russian naval base in Tartus, Syria. Military vehicles were involved in the loading and the vessel's large holds were opened at the time. When the Sparta IV passed the Bosphorus, it had a draft of 6.2 metres (20 feet), which implies a heavy load. In addition, the Sparta IV had already delivered military cargoes in August 2022. At that time, russian missiles for the S-300 SAM system were unloaded from the vessel in Novorossiysk. The russian federation continues to use cargo vessels to move cargo, including military cargo, through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. During 2022-2023, these straits were crossed by russian cargo vessels affiliated with Oboronlogistika LLC, namely: "Sparta IV", "Ursa Major", "Sparta II". The said vessels were operating on the routes Novorossiysk Port (russia) - Bosphorus - Dardanelles - Tartus Port (Syria). On 15.07.2023 the vessel "Sparta IV" in the port of Novorossiysk was involved in loading artillery systems (probably M-46, D-30 or 2B16 "Nona"), which were delivered by the vessel to the Syrian port of Tartus on 07.08.2023. After that the vessel returned to the port of Novorossiysk, and already on 30.08.2023 made a call to the port of Sevastopol (TOT Crimea), where it made a call on 30.08.2023 in an empty state for scheduled repairs. In 2024, the vessel continued to operate on the Novorossiysk (russia) - Tartus (Syria) line. In particular, in February 2024, the vessel sailed from Novorossiysk to Tartus together with the tanker ‘Yaz’ (IMO 9735323), the rollers ‘Lady Maria’ (IMO 9220641) and ‘Baltic Leader’ (IMO 9220639), which were first used on the Novorossiysk-Tartus line. In June 2024, the vessel was deployed on the St Petersburg - Kaliningrad container line, where it made two colonies. At the end of June 2024, the vessel made a crossing of the North Sea. It is likely that the vessel will be engaged in the summer to deliver cargoes required for the construction of a new terminal and field development from the port of Arkhangelsk to the port of Bukhta Sever.

The vessel has made port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Ukraine) and has been involved in regular deliveries of Shahed-136/131 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal disabled. From Tehran, the drones are transported to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are shipped by sea to Makhachkala. They are then moved, along with their launch systems, by air and land to launch sites near Ukraine’s borders – Seshcha in the north (Bryansk Oblast) and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the south (Krasnodar Krai). The vessel has also been implicated in violations of the "Crimean sanctions" regime. The vessel is owned by the sanctioned russian Ladoga Shipping Company LLC (ООО "СК Ладога"), a shipping company based in Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea, whose vessels have previously entered the temporarily occupied Crimea and transported military cargo on behalf of the russian state-owned Rosoboronexport JSC (АО "Рособоронэкспорт") for delivery to the Iranian military. In February and September 2024, the vessel was sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively. On 21 February 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel was involved in the transportation of military cargoes (ammunition, shells, armored vests, and helmets) from Iran to the russian federation via the Caspian Sea, with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabled. The vessel is also mentioned as being involved in trade cooperation between Iran and the russian federation. From July 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel made 15 port calls at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Astara, and Anzali, from which it departed for the russian port of Astrakhan, and in the opposite direction. The Iranian port of Amirabad is a key transshipment point for Iranian drone deliveries to the russian federation. Drones are transported from Tehran to the port of Amirabad, from where they are shipped by sea to Makhachkala, and then moved by air and ground transport to launch airfields near the Ukrainian border – Seshcha in the Bryansk region (north) and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the Krasnodar Krai (south). There is an established practice of misreporting the vessel’s load status; in some voyages, it is impossible to determine the place of loading/unloading. The vessel has also disabled AIS near ports, resulting in unrecorded port calls. The vessel is owned by the russian Declaration Firm VTS-Broker LLC (ООО "Декларантская фирма "ВТС-Брокер", TIN 3017037318), which is part of the VTS Group of Companies (Группа компаний "ВТС"). The group positions itself as the largest freight forwarder in the Astrakhan region in the market for transportation and logistics services for general, breakbulk, and container cargoes in the russian federation and Caspian littoral states. Its fleet includes seven dry-cargo vessels. Among its main clients are the sanctioned russian Mechel PJSC (ПАО "Мечел", TIN 7703370008) and Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan LLC (ООО "Газпром добыча Астрахань", TIN 3006006420). On 10 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. On 21 February 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It is involved in transportation of military cargoes (ammunition, shells, armored vests and helmets) from Iran to russia via the Caspian Sea with AIS disconnection. The vessel is also mentioned as being involved in trade cooperation between Iran and russia. From July 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 11 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Astara, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian port of Astrakhan and in the opposite direction. The Iranian port of Amirabad is the key point of Iranian drone shipments to russia. Drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. There is a practice of incorrect display of the vessel's load, in some voyages it is impossible to identify the place of loading/unloading. The vessel practises disconnection of AIS near the port, as a result of which the port call is not recorded. On 10 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

It was involved in the transportation of ammunition from Iran to russia across the Caspian sea in February 2024. The vessel started calling Iranian ports in 2019-2020. From August 2022 to June 2023, the russian-flagged vessel called 13 times at the Iranian ports of Amirabad, Nowshahr, Anzali, from which it departed for the russian ports of Astrakhan, Makhachkala, Olya and in the opposite direction. The ship practiced disabling its AIS near the port, resulting in no fixed port call. The Iranian port of Amirabad is a key point of Iranian drone shipments to russian federation. The drones are delivered from Tehran to the Iranian port of Amirabad, from where they are transported by sea to Makhachkala, and then by airplanes and ground transportation to launching airfields near the Ukrainian border - Seshcha at the north, in the Bryansk region, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk at the south, in the Krasnodar region. On 10 September 2024, USA and United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The vessel is a roll-on/roll-off ferry designed to transport heavy vehicles and can carry up to 700 tonnes of cargo, including up to 20 trucks and more than 130 passengers. Since 2015, in violation of Ukrainian legislation and "Crimean" sanctions, it has made frequent port calls at terminals in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) of Crimea (Kerch, Komysh-Burun, Port Krym), delivering cargo – including dangerous goods – and transporting russian military personnel. On 27 July 2022, it conducted a so-called "technical" (trial) voyage from Yeysk (Krasnodar Krai, russia) to the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol, Ukraine – a route likely used by the russian military to establish supply chains for weapons, military equipment, and personnel to the TOT of Ukraine. Since October 2022, jointly with the ferry Maria E (IMO 9617923), it has been operating on the strategically important "Crimea– Caucasus" route, which, according to Oboronlogistika LLC, is intended for the delivery of civilian and construction cargo to the TOT of Donbas. The vessel had previously operated on this route between 2015 and 2018, before the commissioning of the Crimean Bridge. It has been involved in fulfilling tasks assigned by the supreme commander-in-chief of the russian federation at the Kerch ferry crossing. Since March 2018, it has transported troops and cargo for the Rosgvardiya on the "Port Kavkaz – Port Kerch" ferry line, and in November 2022, it was used by OBL-Trans LLC – part of the Oboronlogistika group – in the multimodal delivery of medical equipment (a 27-tonne russian-made mobile CT scanner) to the TOT of Crimea, Ukraine. The vessel is owned and operated by OBL-Shipping LLC (IMO 5945681, TIN 9705070412, under Ukrainian sanctions), a subsidiary of the sanctioned Oboronlogistika LLC (IMO 5906931, TIN 7718857267). OBL-Shipping LLC also manages the vessels Pizhma (IMO 8814354), Ambal (IMO 8807416), and Sparta II (IMO 9160994) on strategic routes critical for russia, maintains fleet serviceability, ensures compliance with safe operation standards, and is certified to provide maritime transportation services for nuclear materials, radioactive substances, and radioactive waste.

In 2023-2024, the vessel was used to transport weapons (military equipment and ammunition) to russia. The vessel is involved in the delivery of ballistic missiles from Iran to russia (Olya port, Astrakhan region) in August-September 2024. At the end of 2023, Iran and russia agreed to transfer weapons systems from Iran to russia. It is known that among the systems that Iran agreed to provide to russia are Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles (CRBM). In early July 2024, about 40 russian servicemen allegedly traveled to Iran to train on Fath-360 CRBM missiles. In August 2024, 25 20-foot-long containers were loaded with ballistic missiles at a missile facility in Iran. Each 20-foot-long container can hold up to nine CRBMs. In mid-August 2024, these 25 containers were transported to the port of Amirabad on the Caspian Sea in Iran and then loaded onto the "Port Olya-3" vessel by August 30. Subsequently, by September 04, 2024, these 25 containers were unloaded from the vessel "Port Olya-3" and loaded onto railroad cars in the port of Olya (russia). The vessel is owned by a russian sanctioned company, MG-Flot LLC, associated with Astrakhan businessman Jamaldin Emirmagomedovich Pashayev, who built his business around the Olya trade port in Astrakhan region. This particular location was 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 key purpose of the transport corridor was to trade with sanctioned Iran, which could import and export goods via the North-South route. On 10 September 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel. On October 18, 2024, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a ship in connection with the transportation of military cargo from a third country (Iran) to a certain location in russia. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.