The occupiers’ shadow fleet, the ship “THEA”: war-sanctions.
War & Sanctions reveals a dossier on 238 vessels of the shadow tanker fleet, which helps aggressors avoid international sanctions, generating billions in revenue and posing a serious threat to global environmental security. This report was provided by Time Ukraine Israel, citing the press service of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
The shadow fleet and its impact on global security
Exports of fossil fuels are the main source of funding for aggressive regimes, particularly in Russia and Iran. In 2023, Russia earned more than $188 billion from oil exports, and Iran almost $53 billion. These funds contribute to the military buildup, development of nuclear programmes, and financing of terrorist groups and criminal networks. In particular, Russian and Iranian officials use this money to purchase weapons, launch drones and missiles, and support their proxies in different regions of the world.
Shadow fleet: old tankers in the service of aggressors
The shadow fleet consists of more than a thousand old oil tankers, most of which are in poor technical condition, lack proper insurance and operate under “convenient” flags in non-G7+ countries. They actively use complex ownership structures and conceal their real owners, making them difficult to access for international control. The total deadweight of this fleet exceeds 100 million tonnes, which is about 17% of the global tanker fleet.
These vessels are actively violating international sanctions by transporting oil from Russia and Iran, evading the price ceiling and the G7+ embargo. Their activities pose a real threat to the environment, as they often refuse pilotage services and pass through busy international waters, where there is a risk of environmental disasters. In addition, tankers in this fleet are actively operating through transshipment points that allow them to circumvent sanctions and deliver oil to countries that support the aggressor regime.
Growth of the shadow fleet after the introduction of sanctions
After Western sanctions were imposed on Russia and it refused to supply oil through traditional channels in Europe, Moscow began to actively build up its shadow fleet. Together with Iran, Russia has spent about $10 billion to create its own fleet of obsolete tankers. These vessels facilitate the transportation of oil to Asian countries, in particular to China and India, where demand for Russian energy is growing. Thus, despite the sanctions, Russia has found new markets, which allows it to circumvent the restrictions and continue financing the war in Ukraine.
Uniqueness of the War & Sanctions portal: data on the shadow fleet
The War & Sanctions portal has become the only source in the world that provides access to a unique dataset documenting the activities of the shadow tanker fleet. A total of 238 vessels have been published to date, actively involved in the transportation of oil from sanctioned countries and in violation of international prohibitions. This fleet, which includes tankers on the blacklists of organisations such as Greenpeace and UANI, not only violates the oil embargo but also poses a serious threat to the environment, especially in regions such as the Baltic Sea.
In addition, the portal allows you to sort vessels by groups of operators that have recently entered the market, quickly creating a fleet of outdated tankers such as Aframax, Suezmax, etc. These new players have become key in ensuring the transportation of Russian oil, supporting the Kremlin regime and helping to circumvent international sanctions.
A call to action
The War & Sanctions portal continues to monitor the activities of the shadow fleet and invites all concerned to follow the news and investigations. The information published here is important for understanding the mechanisms by which aggressors choose to circumvent sanctions and continue to finance wars and terror.
War & Sanctions is a unique portal that explores the impact of sanctions on international politics, as well as the facts concerning violations of environmental norms and international standards in maritime transport. Our goal is to tell about all aspects of modern warfare and sanctions that can threaten the civilised world.
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