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NESTOS

Person of interest
TypeVessel[sources]
NameNESTOS[sources]
Build Date[sources]
Call Sign3E2232[sources]
DescriptionAccording to CREA, from January to August 2024, the number of shadow tankers crossing the Danish Straits in Europe increased by 277% compared to the same period in 2022, with 64% of the 46 million tons of russian marine oil transported through the Danish Straits being transported by shadow tankers. In the same period, the number of shadow tankers in the Straits of Dover and Gibraltar increased by 355% compared to 2022, transporting 67% of the 37 million tons of oil through the straits. The Suez Canal experienced a staggering 649% increase in shadow tanker traffic, with 69% of the 52 million tons of russian crude oil passing through it being transported by these vessels. · After Fractal Marine was sanctioned, DMCC tried to challenge the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom but lost in court. After that, the company 're-signed' its fleet to other companies established, in particular, in the UAE. Thus, the UAE-based Aizdihar Ship Charter FZCO took over 2 tankers that had previously been managed by Fractal Marine DMCC - 'ABHA' (IMO 9400980) and 'NESTOS' (IMO 9417464). These vessels, managed by Aizdihar Ship Charter FZCO, continue to export russian oil/oil products from russian ports in the Baltic Sea. · Against the backdrop of sanctions, russia is using a scheme of 'juggling' shadow fleet vessels between related companies to conceal oil exports beyond the restrictions, the real owners of the vessels, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels, and is creating new companies (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. There is a constant change of ship management, renaming of vessels with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign. Shadow fleet vessels operate under 'convenient flags', which allows them to conceal their true origin and avoid control by international organizations and insurance companies. · During the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of oil to third countries from russian ports, and resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal, conducting so-called 'dark activities' at sea. · Fractal Marine DMCC, together with Gatik Ship Management (India) and Radiating World Shipping Services LLC (UAE, under UK sanctions), are considered the leading operators of the russian shadow fleet, which in early 2023 assembled a fleet of about 90 tankers, 90% of which transported russian oil/oil products from the Baltic and Black Sea ports of russia to India, China, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and South America. In less than a year, the $2 billion fleet of oil tankers assembled by Fractal and Gatik could transport more than 40 million barrels of oil/oil products. India, UAE - the jurisdictions of the leading shadow fleet operators Fractal Marine DMCC, Gatik Ship Management and Radiating World Shipping Services LLC, have not joined the price-cap policy and do not apply restrictions to russian oil. Fractal Marine DMCC, Gatik Ship Management and Radiating World Shipping Services LLC in the tanker market helped russian oil to continue circulating around the world and the russian government to provide multibillion-dollar revenues bypassing the sanctions. · 5 more...[sources]
FlagPanama[sources]
IMO Number9417464[sources]
MMSI352002243[sources]
Past FlagsMarshall Islands[sources]
Previous nameAion · Argo · Aspasia Lemos[sources]
TypeCrude Oil Tanker[sources]
Source linkgcaptain.com · kse.ua · safety4sea.com · search-uk-sanctions-list.service.gov.uk · war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua · 4 more...[sources]
Last changeLast processedFirst seen

Descriptions

Transporting oil in violation of other restrictions

— Ukraine War and Sanctions,

Transportation of fossil fuels

— Ukraine War and Sanctions,

Relationships

Data sources

Ukraine War and Sanctions1,552

Sponsors and accomplices of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine · GUR

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