Russian bulk carrier has been maneuvering in the Sea of Marmara for almost two months

The vessel Enisey (IMO:9079169) under the Russian flag is suspected of working on military or illegal transportation.

This was reported by Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist for the SeaKrime project of the Peacemaker Center.

According to her, in early February 2024, Enisey left Arkhangelsk, arrived in occupied Sevastopol in April, loaded with Melitopol wheat and headed for Venezuela.

“There, it made similar movements near the coast for several months, eventually entered the ports of Venezuela and Colombia and returned to the Mediterranean Sea in December 2024,” said Kateryna Yaresko.

Since then, the bulk carrier has been “writing patterns” in the Mediterranean Sea, and has now moved to the sea of Marmara.

“Let’s think about the economics of this voyage. The ship has a crew of 20 people, who all this time must probably be paid money, at least fed, provided with electricity, fuel. I see two options. The ship is doing something that makes a lot of money and illegally. Or the ship is doing work for the military or special services of the Russian Federation and is financed from their budget,” the journalist noted.

According to the Defense Intelligence portal War&Sanctions, in 2022 the US imposed sanctions on LLC “TK Severny Proekt” and its 15 ships, in particular the Enisey ship, due to the transportation of weapons for the Russian Federation by the company’s ships.

In June 2024, EU sanctions were imposed on the “Enisey” vessel due to the theft of Ukrainian grain. Also in October 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the bulk carrier.