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| Type | Vessel | [sources] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | MEROPE · Merope | [sources] | |||
| Country | Russia | [sources] | |||
| Build Date | [sources] | ||||
| Call Sign | 3E2648 | [sources] | |||
| Deadweight Tonnage | 107198 | [sources] | |||
| Description | During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian crude oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic, Black seas, and the Pacific region, mainly to China. According to the USA-based human rights group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic using satellite data, the vessel was involved in the transportation of Iranian oil and switched to transporting russian oil in March 2022. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 90 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian export oil are now helping russia transport russian oil/oil products. In May 2022, UANI first predicted that russia would turn to a 'ghost armada' to ensure oil flows to its Chinese partner. The tanker was illegally transporting hundreds of thousands of metric tons of Iranian oil on behalf of, among others, the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Ministry of Oil of Iran. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. The oil deals of NIOC, including its subsidiaries, provide the Iranian regime with resources to finance its nuclear program, develop advanced drones and missiles, and provide ongoing financial and material support for the terrorist activities of its regional proxies. The international public organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadowy fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment. On December 03, 2024, USA imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on vessels that play a critical role in the transportation of illicit Iranian petroleum to foreign markets. On February 24, March 04, 2025 EU and Switzerland respectively imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/oil products originating in or exported from russia using irregular and high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly resolution A.1192 (33) (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025). In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. | [sources] | |||
| Flag | Panama | [sources] | |||
| IMO Number | IMO9281891 | [sources] | |||
| MMSI | 352002495 | [sources] | |||
| Past Flags | Liberia | [sources] | |||
| Previous name | Amber Sun · Baltic Sea · Diamond Champ · Stena Conductor | [sources] | |||
| Type | 20 · Crude Oil Tanker · Oil Tanker | [sources] | |||
| Source link | eur-lex.europa.eu · eur-lex.europa.eu · sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov | [sources] | |||
| Last change | Last processed | First seen | |||
Transport crude oil or petroleum products, as listed in Annex 24, that originate in Russia or are exported from Russia while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organisation General Assembly resolution A.1192(33)
Shipping sanctions: a specified ship is prohibited from being provided with access to or having its master or pilot cause it to enter a port in the UK, may have its registration on the UK Ship Register terminated, and a master or pilot of a specified ship may be given a port barring direction, a detention direction, and a port entry direction or a movement direction.
The EU Sanctions Map is a visualisation of EU sanctions policy. It includes a broader set of policies and entities than the EU consolidated sanctions list.
European Union · Council
UK sanctions collated by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
United Kingdom · FCDO
Sanctions imposed by Canada on specific countries, organizations, or individuals under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and JVCFOA
Canada · Global Affairs Canada
The primary United States' sanctions list, specially designated nationals (SDN) part.
United States of America · OFAC
Supplemental list of people, companies, and organizations sanctioned for involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
European Union · Council
Sponsors and accomplices of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.
Ukraine · GUR
Switzerland manages a sanctions lists with a high degree of detail on the individuals that are subject to it's embargoes
Switzerland · SECO
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 of America · ITA
ca-sema-5f142dcaeb8d3a58876facd3b6ba81a354970711 · ua-ws-91ea15a915066509291c2fc96fa906a2add30f65 · ua-ws-vessel-466 · eu-sancmap-8e84ce67523388be64b1f635c98ef805d8e457c2 · NK-4LknX5bNbAP3BzgGAY6GHC · gb-fcdo-rus2849 · ofac-51387 · ch-seco-89743 · eu-oj-91fd5cffbc1269a000d09227e7b7026ab346aa7c · NK-H7ihnCuvSvcbiFeJqhMfY8For experts: raw data explorer
OpenSanctions is free for non-commercial users. Businesses must acquire a data license to use the dataset.
| Sanctions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Authority | Program | Start date | End date | |
| United States of America | Office of Foreign Assets Control | - | - | ||
| Linked from | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Role | Start date | End date | |
| Shanghai Future Ship Mgmt Co Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | security_manager | - | ||
| Owner | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Country | Legal form | Status | |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd · Shanghai Future Ship Mgmt Co | China | - | - | |
| Owners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Percentage held | Start date | End date | |
| Lepus Sai Limited Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - | ||
| Switzerland | State Secretariat for Economic Affairs | Measures In Relation To The Situation In Ukraine | - |
| Ukraine | ГУР МО України | Vessels involved in the transportation of weapons, stolen Ukrainian products and in the circumvention of sanctions | - | - |
| United Kingdom | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · UK | Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 | - |
| Canada | Global Affairs Canada | Special Economic Measures Act | - | - |
| commerce_manager |
| - |
| Lepus Sai Limited Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - | - |
| Shanghai Future Ship Mgmt Co Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - | - |