Russia transported 60% of its seaborne oil exports last year using a “shadow fleet,” — Defense Intelligence
22.03.2025 - 15:19
Over 60% of Russia’s seaborne exports in 2024 were transported by vessels of the so-called shadow fleet.
In particular, in 2024, Russia transported 78% of exported crude oil and 37% of petroleum products using these vessels, the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported.
Russia’s total seaborne oil exports are estimated at over 80 billion euros: crude oil – 57 billion euros, petroleum products – 26 billion euros.
The War&Sanctions portal published an updated list of vessels of the “shadow fleet”, which included 35 new tankers. Information was also updated on objects that have changed their identification data and ownership structure in recent months to circumvent sanctions.
The “shadow fleet” of the Russian Federation is 387 tankers that transport oil and petroleum products with a total deadweight of over 57 million metric tons.
Currently, Russia is changing the model of behavior with its hidden fleet – in addition to the UAE, India, Seychelles, Marshall Islands, it additionally chooses for registration of companies of owners/managers of shadow tankers of the PRC, in particular Hong Kong, as well as the Russian Federation.
Russia also distributes vessels under the umbrella of new “convenient” flags of the Comoros, Curacao, Djibouti, Guyana, Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania.
The updated list of the shadow fleet includes vessels associated with operators of the Russian tanker fleet – Fractal Marine Shipping (UAE), Gatik ShipManagement (India), Sun Ship Management (UAE) and HenneseaHoldings Limited (UAE). Since 2022, these companies have been regularly changing owners.
Tankers of the “shadow fleet” hide data about vessels and cargo, turn off navigation equipment, creating threats to shipping. High-risk STS loading is widely used – transshipment of oil from ship to ship in the open sea, which complicates control over the origin of raw materials.
More than 90% of shadow tankers published on the portal do not have proper Western insurance, and therefore, in the event of an accident or oil spill, the affected coastal countries may not receive any compensation.
Earlier, USM reported that Germany confiscated a tanker of the Russian “shadow fleet”.
