The vessel is engaged in transportation of russian crude oil during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil. The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot, the largest state-owned shipping company in russia for servicing and supporting offshore hydrocarbon production, transportation of russian oil, oil products and liquefied natural gas. The main charterers of Sovcomflot's vessels are russia's largest oil and gas companies and traders. Sovcomflot is involved in servicing major oil and gas projects in russia: Sakhalin 1, Sakhalin 2, Varandey, Prirazlomnoye, Novy Port, Yamal LNG and others. Prior to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company's fleet consisted of about 145 vessels. After the imposition of sanctions, Sovcomflot transferred dozens of vessels to the ownership of companies it had set up, including in foreign jurisdictions, in order to circumvent them, and began the practice of constantly 'juggling' (transferring) vessels to related companies. The tankers 're-registered' by Sovcomflot to related companies, according to expert estimates, are part of the so-called 'shadow tanker fleet' of the russian federation to continue selling russian oil, oil products and liquefied gas under Western sanctions. The tanker is managed by Invest Fleet LLC, a russian company established in December 2023. Invest Fleet LLC is managed by the russian LLC SCF Arctica, a subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot. In February 2024, USA imposed sanctions on 14 vessels (including ІМО 9312884) affiliated with the sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot as part of measures to reduce russia's oil revenues. In June 2024, EU sanctions were imposed on the vessel. On October 17, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in response to the transportation of crude oil/oil products originating from russia or exported from russia, using irregular and high-risk shipping practices, as specified in the resolution of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization A.1192(33). On November 25, 2024, United Kingdom imposed sanctions on a tanker in connection with the transportation of russian crude oil/oil products from the russian federation to a third country as part of the restrictions on the russian shadow fleet. On February 21, 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On April 11, 2025, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of vessel IMO 9312884.
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.
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).