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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. 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. The vessel is also involved in the transportation of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. Since russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100 vessels that previously helped Iran export oil are now helping russia transport russian crude oil and petroleum products. 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. On December 3, 2024, the US imposed sanctions on a tanker as part of restrictions on vessels that play a significant role in transporting illegal Iranian oil to foreign markets. Since February 25 and March 4, 2025, the EU and Switzerland, respectively, have imposed sanctions on the tanker for transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192 (33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel. Since October 30, 2025, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on the tanker. In early January 2026, the tanker MEROPE (IMO 9281891), as part of a group of tankers, attempted to leave Venezuelan waters in dark mode (with AIS transponders turned off) to bypass the US blockade as part of Operation Southern Spear. After the US detained another vessel from this group (OLINA (IMO 9282479)) on January 9, 2026, the tanker MEROPE (IMO 9281891) and two other vessels (THALIA III (IMO 9259197) and MIN HANG (IMO 9257137)) returned to Venezuelan waters. All of these tankers were loaded with oil belonging to the sanctioned Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA. Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel. | [sources] | |||
| Flag | Panama | [sources] | |||
| Gross Registered Tonnage | 58100 | [sources] | |||
| IMO Number | IMO9281891 | [sources] | |||
| MMSI | 352002495 | [sources] | |||
| Past Flags | Liberia · Panama | [sources] | |||
| Previous name | Amber Sun · Baltic Sea · Diamond Champ · Stena Conductor | [sources] | |||
| Registration number | NUCLZBGL6LY5 | [sources] | |||
| Type | Crude Oil Tanker · Oil Tanker | Navire-citerne pour produits pétroliers | [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.
Iran's 'ghost armada'
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
Sanctions imposed by Canada on specific countries, organizations, or individuals under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and JVCFOA
Canada · Global Affairs Canada
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
A database of suppliers who have been excluded from participating in US federal procurement.
United States · GSA
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
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
Switzerland manages a sanctions lists with a high degree of detail on the individuals that are subject to it's embargoes
Switzerland · SECO
The primary United States' sanctions list, specially designated nationals (SDN) part.
United States · OFAC
usgsa-s4mrvttqh · NK-NRzimu4y8yZoqzH5WPxLPR · eu-oj-91fd5cffbc1269a000d09227e7b7026ab346aa7c · ofac-51387 · ca-sema-5f142dcaeb8d3a58876facd3b6ba81a354970711 · ofac-pr-e268d9ce74938121e3a1c528151281ef319d181c · ch-seco-89743 · gb-fcdo-rus2849 · NK-H7ihnCuvSvcbiFeJqhMfY8 · eu-sancmap-8e84ce67523388be64b1f635c98ef805d8e457c2 · eu-sancmap-97f60554cb69b7afc0c4606a029569ed70b2dbb9 · ua-ws-91ea15a915066509291c2fc96fa906a2add30f65 · ua-ws-vessel-466For experts: raw data explorer
OpenSanctions is free for non-commercial users. Businesses must acquire a data license to use the dataset.
| Linked from | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Role | Start date | End date | |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd Debarred entity · Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | commerce_manager | - | ||
| Owners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Percentage held | Start date | End date | |
| Lepus Sai Limited Debarred entity · Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - | - | |
| Switzerland | State Secretariat for Economic Affairs | Measures In Relation To The Situation In Ukraine | - |
| United Kingdom | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · UK | UK sanctions relating to Russia | - |
| United States | Office of Foreign Assets Control | Iran Sanctions | - | - |
| European Union | Council of the European Union | EU Designated Vessels (Council Regulation 833/2014) | - |
| Ukraine | ГУР МО України | Vessels involved in the transportation of weapons, stolen Ukrainian products and in the circumvention of sanctions | - | - |
| Canada | Global Affairs Canada | Special Economic Measures Act | - | - |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd Debarred entity · Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | security_manager | - |
| Lepus Sai Limited Debarred entity · Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - |
| Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd Debarred entity · Export controlled · Sanctioned entity | - | - | - |