Description | According 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. · As sanctions are being imposed, russia uses a scheme of 'juggling' ships between related companies to conceal oil exports outside the price cap and other restrictions, as well as to hide the real owners of ships, and to ensure unimpeded transportation of fossil fuels by a 'shadow' fleet of obsolete oil tankers, creates new companies for these purposes (in the UAE, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, Mauritius, Seychelles, and other jurisdictions) with non-transparent organizational and ownership structures. In order to implement this scheme, technical/commercial management and ship owners are constantly changing, and vessels are renamed with a change of flag, MMSI, call-sign, including for sanctioned vessels. 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 G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil, the tanker is involved in the export of russian oil to third countries from russian ports in the Black and Baltic seas. · Since January 2023, the vessel has been owned by an unknown company, Durbeen Navigation LTD, whose fleet consists only of the tanker 'ANDAMAN SKIES'. Since November 2023, the vessel's manager has been Alqutb Alshamali Marine Services LLC (UAE), affiliated with one of the leading operators of the so-called 'shadow' fleet, Radiating World Shipping Services LLC (UAE, under United Kingdom sanctions). At the beginning of 2023, Radiating World Shipping Services LLC was one of the three largest carriers of russian oil, along with Fractal Marine Shipping (UAE) and Gatik Ship Management (India). At that time, the fleet of Fractal Marine Shipping, Radiating World Shipping Services and Gatik Ship Management consisted of about 90 tankers, 90% of which transported oil and oil products from the Baltic and Black Sea ports of russia to India, China, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and South America. In order to circumvent the sanctions, Radiating World Shipping Services 're-registered' its fleet to related companies, in particular Alqutb Ashamali Marine Services (as of October 30, 2024, only one tanker, 'Turbo Voyager' (IMO 9299898, under United Kingdom sanctions since October 17, 2024), remained in the management of Alqutb Ashamali Marine Services). · Tankers operated/managed by Radiating World Shipping Services LLC continue to be used by related companies and call at russian ports. · 3 more... | [sources] |
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