The vessel, through its related companies, including Stream Ship Management FZCO, 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 vessel is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian oil to third countries (in particular, India and Saudi Arabia) from the russian port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea and russian ports in the Black Sea with the AIS signal turned off.
On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular and risky shipping practices, as set out in the resolution of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization A.1192(33).
On December 16, 2024, the EU imposed sanctions on the tanker (effective from December 17, 2024) due to the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
On 11 September 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on 10 oil tankers (including ІМО 9316127) related to the transportation of oil or oil products from russia to third countries.
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)
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)