The shadow fleet of the russian federation continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers.
During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic, black seas, and the Pacific region to third countries, and in dark activities at sea near Indonesia, China, russia, and South Korea with the AIS signal turned off. The tanker was also used to transport sanctioned Iranian oil.
During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo on russian oil, the tanker has been involved in the export of russian oil from russian ports in the Baltic, black seas, and the Pacific region to third countries, and in dark activities at sea near Indonesia, China, russia, and South Korea with the AIS signal turned off. The tanker was also used to transport sanctioned Iranian oil. The tanker is affiliated with Gemini Marine Limited (under US sanctions), whose fleet transports oil products on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), controlled by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Gemini Marine Limited's fleet also transported oil products for the network of sanctioned financial official Houthi Saeed al-Jamal, whose network provided tens of millions of dollars in illicit oil sales to support the financing of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. russia has created its own shadow fleet of tankers, mostly made up of old tankers, many of which have experience 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 100 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. The international public organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment. The shadow fleet of the russian federation continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners, and poses significant threats to environmental safety with significant economic costs for coastal countries and/or the international community due to the outdated and inadequate insurance of shadow fleet tankers. On October 02, 2024, the vessel was subject to US sanctions as a property in which Gemini Marine Limited has an interest. 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). On June 03, 2025, the sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel came into force. In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel. On July 21, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.
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 public organization Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers that transport russian oil around the world and threaten the environment.
The tanker is affiliated with Gemini Marine Limited (under US sanctions), whose fleet transports oil products on behalf of Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), controlled by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Gemini Marine Limited's fleet also transported oil products for the network of sanctioned financial official Houthi Saeed al-Jamal, whose network provided tens of millions of dollars in illicit oil sales to support the financing of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
russia has created its own shadow fleet of tankers, mostly made up of old tankers, many of which have experience 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 100 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.
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)