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ASHER

Shadow fleet · Person of interest · Sanctioned entity
TypeVessel[sources]
NameASHER · Asher · NOCTIS · Noctis[sources]
CountryRussia[sources]
Build Date[sources]
Call SignD6A3845[sources]
Deadweight Tonnage114809[sources]
DescriptionDuring the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker was involved in the export of oil to third countries from russian ports in the Baltic and Black Seas. The vessel is certified by the regulator Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (IACS). The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as a shadow fleet. The tanker is affiliated with Thang Long Gas Co LTD (Vietnam), whose fleet was involved in the transportation of sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil. Thang Long Gas Co LTD was the previous owner and manager of the tanker. russia has created its own shadow fleet of tankers, mostly made up of older tankers, many of which have experience in operating under sanctions imposed on regimes such as Iran. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 90 vessels that previously helped Tehran export Iranian oil are now helping russia transport russian oil/oil products. In May 2022, UANI predicted that russia would use a 'ghost armada' to ensure that excess profits from oil exports flow to its Chinese partner, in particular. Oil exports from russia are the most important source of income for the kremlin regime to finance the war against Ukraine. The tax on oil production collected by the russian federation in 2023 amounted to 8.9 trillion rubles, or 31% of total federal revenues. According to CREA data for September 2024, russia's revenues from crude oil exported by sea amounted to 192 million euros per day, 86% of the total volume of russian marine crude oil was transported by shadow tankers, while tankers owned or insured in countries that impose price restrictions accounted for 14% of the total value of russian oil exported in September. The shadow tanker fleet continues to generate multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin by circumventing sanctions by disguising its activities under third-country flags, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant environmental safety hazards with significant economic costs to coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequately insured shadow fleet tankers. On December 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a vessel in connection with the transportation of oil or oil products originating in russia or from russia to a third country. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. 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); promoting or supporting actions/policies aimed at the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in russia, including energy infrastructure (EU sanctions will enter into force on February 25, 2025). In June 2025, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel. Since September 12, 2025, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on the vessel.[sources]
FlagComoros · Vietnam[sources]
IMO NumberIMO9258868[sources]
MMSI620999845[sources]
Past FlagsIsle of Man · Marshall Islands · Panama · Vietnam[sources]
Previous nameAsher · British Swift · Gold Season · Luna · Marid · 1 more...[sources]
Type20 · Oil Tanker[sources]
Source linkeur-lex.europa.eu · eur-lex.europa.eu[sources]
Last changeLast processedFirst seen

Descriptions

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) Are operated in such a way as to contribute or support actions or policies for the exploitation, development or expansion of the energy sector in Russia, including energy infrastructure.

— Swiss SECO Sanctions/Embargoes,

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.

— UK FCDO Sanctions List,

Relationships

Data sources

EU Sanctions Map1,327

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

Canadian Consolidated Autonomous Sanctions List5,042

Sanctions imposed by Canada on specific countries, organizations, or individuals under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and JVCFOA

Canada · Global Affairs Canada

Ukraine War and Sanctions5,382

Sponsors and accomplices of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine · GUR

UK FCDO Sanctions List5,976

Official register of individuals, entities, and vessel subject to UK sanctions under regulations made pursuant to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.

United Kingdom · FCDO

Swiss SECO Sanctions/Embargoes7,775

Switzerland manages a sanctions lists with a high degree of detail on the individuals that are subject to it's embargoes

Switzerland · SECO

EU Council Official Journal Sanctioned Entities2,797

Supplemental list of people, companies, and organizations sanctioned for involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

European Union · Council

Source data IDs: ua-ws-eda547ce85b9d1b039417c0834eac1d13b675322 · ua-ws-6cbe1082d3fa2c29a467070f22df716db47e17e0 · eu-sancmap-e0e7cf367460cf36275fb4c967fb369e106ca15f · eu-oj-0fc1ca00cac0c9a8c086cc87e62468186b0bb991 · ua-ws-97d1ab7bfe5ba42774f530bc5769a45e456c84de · NK-JNijdbFk6YdLxg6EkvhDGd · ua-ws-vessel-456 · ch-seco-90047 · ca-sema-34c7f3256799846a2e083703c376450bfa2d0189 · eu-oj-9d9a42433da33f0b3bd5d4991605ee698f859a54 · gb-fcdo-rus2375 · NK-F8RrUojneH52XABFT5gw5o

For experts: raw data explorer

FactsheetDescriptionsData sources
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OpenSanctions Datenbanken GmbH · info@opensanctions.org · https://opensanctions.org/meeting