27 June 2024 Lloyd's List
Tankers flagged in Gabon, Cook Islands and Panama sanctioned for circumventing G7 oil price cap on Russia
THE EU’s 14th sanctions package adopted today directly designated 27 ships, including tankers said to be linked to Putin’s dark fleet*, and those transporting military equipment and stolen grain from Ukraine.
This is the first time that the EU has directly targeted single-ship registered owners and listed the IMO number, which mirrored recent action in the UK and US, that has proven the most effective in removing vessels from the market to halt further trading.
Among those ships listed for skirting sanctions on Russia’s oil and shipping sector were four Gabon-flagged tankers, including three operated by Russian government-controlled Sovcomflot and another product tanker, Hana (IMO: 9353113).
Hana is one for 50-plus tankers that was formerly part of Gatik Ship Management, Russia’s largest dark fleet operator, which fragmented into 18-plus subsidiaries more than a year ago after vessels were deflagged, declassed and lost insurance for breaching sanctions.
Hana’s registered owner, Elizario Shipping Incorporation was incorporated in Mauritius last year, while the current shipmanager since July, 2023, is Türkiye-based Unic Shipmanagement.
Four other sanctioned tankers were flagged in the Cook Islands, and were formerly managed by Dubai-based Radiating World Shipping Services and Star Voyages Shipping Services. Those companies also splintered and reorganised vessels under management into new entities between August and January, in response to December 2024 sanctions imposed by the UK government.
Two of the four Cook Islands-flagged vessels Canis Power (IMO: 9289520) and Ocean Amz (IMO: 9394935) were sanctioned by the UK government 10 days ago. The additional tankers, Galian 2 (IMO: 9331153) and Vela Rain (IMO: 9331141) are also linked to the same fleet and unknown owner.
Panama-flagged aframax Andromeda Star (IMO: 9402471) and general cargo vessel Hunter Star (IMO: 9830769) also made the list, alongside two semi-submersible heavy-lift vessels.
Comentarios