The constant change of owners and managers of vessels to avoid sanctions and conceal the true beneficiaries of the vessels is a typical phenomenon for the so-called "shadow" fleet involved in the russian oil and oil products trade.
During the period of the G7+ oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian crude oil/oil products, the tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil/oil products from russian ports to third countries.
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).
On October 17, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on tankers of the russian so-called "shadow" fleet, including the tanker ІМО 9332810 in connection with the transportation of russian oil and/or oil products from russia to third countries.
The owner and manager of the vessel is Tirad Shipping Inc (Mauritius), whose fleet consists of this vessel alone. This company is the next owner and commercial manager of the oil tanker of the so-called "shadow" fleet involved in the transportation of russian oil (oil products). The tanker's previous managers were the Turkish company Unic Tanker Ship Management, which managed oil and chemical tankers received from the Indian company Gatik Ship Management, one of the leading operators of the "shadow" fleet, and Gatik Ship Management itself. Since the beginning of russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Indian company Gatik Ship Management has become the largest carrier of russian oil and has been used to operate the russian "shadow" fleet under sanctions.
According to the Estonian Navy, on April 11, 2025, in Estonian waters, in order to check the vessel's documents and legal status, the sanctioned tanker IMO 9332810, which was unflagged and sailed from the Indian port of Sikka to the russian port of Ust-Luga, was detained. The master of the tanker is a Chinese citizen, and there were 24 people on board. The investigation on board of the vessel is being conducted by the competent authorities.