The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, is involved in the export of oil to third countries from russian ports, in particular in the Baltic Sea, and resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal, conducting so-called "dark activities" at sea.
On May 20, 2025, the EU imposed sanctions, which enter into force on May 21, 2025, on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as specified in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transports Russian oil around the world through the Baltic Sea, the Kadetsky Canal area in the Gulf of Mecklenburg and threatens the environment.
The tanker is affiliated with Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Co Ltd (Vietnam), which was the previous owner and manager of the vessel. According to the American human rights group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors tanker traffic related to Iran using satellite data, the Sao Viet Petrol Transportation Co Ltd tanker fleet is involved in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil, in particular, tankers IMO 9284582, IMO 9284594, IMO 9337133.
On May 09, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of the restrictions on the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining/threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine or benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, in particular, from russia to a third country.
Until February 2025, the ISM-management of the vessel was carried out by Akara Navigation LLC (Azerbaijan), which managed the safety of two other shadow fleet vessels involved in the transportation of sanctioned russian oil, IMO 9233741, IMO 9262924, while the IMO 9262924 tanker was identified by the international NGO Greenpeace as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment.
Transport crude oil or petroleum products 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.
Article 4x(2), point (b):
transport crude oil or petroleum products, as listed in Annex XIII, 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)