Keep updated
Get in touch
| Type | Vessel | [sources] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | VERONICA III | [sources] | |||
| Country | Panama | [sources] | |||
| Build Date | [sources] | ||||
| Call Sign | 3E2317 | [sources] | |||
| Deadweight Tonnage | 298522 | [sources] | |||
| Description | 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). br 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. br On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker. br Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9326055. br 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. br 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. | [sources] | |||
| Flag | Panama | [sources] | |||
| Gross Registered Tonnage | 156933 | [sources] | |||
| IMO Number | IMO9326055 | [sources] | |||
| MMSI | 352002475 | [sources] | |||
| Past Flags | Greece · Liberia · Panama | [sources] | |||
| Previous name | Symphonic · Veronica · White Nova | [sources] | |||
| Registration number | NUF3EMR24N14 | [sources] | |||
| Type | Crude Oil Tanker | [sources] | |||
| Source link | home.treasury.gov · sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov · war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua | [sources] | |||
| Last change | Last processed | First seen | |||
Iran's 'ghost armada'
The Maduro-Khamenei Oil Alliance
The primary United States' sanctions list, specially designated nationals (SDN) part.
United States · OFAC
Sponsors and accomplices of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.
Ukraine · GUR
The Consolidated Screening List (CSL) is a list of parties for which the United States Government maintains restrictions on certain exports, re-exports, or transfers of items.
United States · ITA
A database of suppliers who have been excluded from participating in US federal procurement.
United States · GSA
The record has been enriched with data from the following external databases:
US OFAC press releases that provide context and details related to sanctioned entities.
External dataset · United States · OFAC
ua-ws-vessel-761 · usgsa-s4mrvttqj · ofac-51389 · ofac-pr-7afb7184bec32b55d0338a4dc708303f2295f40f · ua-ws-5968d7cb62145107e41719de73e026065ba86ec0For experts: raw data explorer
/match API function when implementing a screening system.GET https://api.opensanctions.org/entities/NK-BfcP2sg6XEcJkTXKxr4KLQ?nested=true
OpenSanctions is free for non-commercial users. Businesses must acquire a data license to use the dataset.
| Documents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Document | Date | |
| Treasury Intensifies Pressure on Iranian Shadow Fleet | ||
| Linked from | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Role | Start date | End date | |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | commerce_manager | - | ||
| Owners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Percentage held | Start date | End date | |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - | - | |
| Ukraine | ГУР МО України | Vessels involved in the transportation of weapons, stolen Ukrainian products and in the circumvention of sanctions | - | - |
| United States | TREAS-OFAC | Reciprocal | - |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | security_manager | - |
| Volans Delta Ltd Person of interest | - | - |