Bulk carrier thief “Caffa” changed flag and owner before smuggling from occupied ports
20.07.2025 - 10:40
The vessel was caught illegally exporting Ukrainian grain and directly cooperating with Russian companies.
Kateryna Yaresko, a journalist for the SeaCrime project of the Myrotvorets Center, recorded the illegal activities of the bulk carrier “Caffa” (IMO: 9143611), which changed its name, flag, and owner in June 2025, and later entered the closed port of Sevastopol loaded.
The vessel unloaded on June 22–28 in Komyshova Bay at berth No. 215 (coordinates 44.581, 33.427). Later, on July 2–3, Caffa loaded in the Turkish port of Karadeniz Eregli (41.284, 31.41), after which it again entered Komyshova Bay, where repeated unloading began on July 6.
The bulk carrier then moved to the Sevastopol Bay, where on July 16–18, about 3,000 tons of barley were loaded at the Avlita grain terminal (44.625, 33.552). The exporter was identified as the Russian company “Khlebkom” (TIN 2308100890, Krasnodar), known for illegally exporting grain from the occupied Ukrainian territories.
The bulk carrier Caffa is officially registered to the company Caffa Shipping LTD (IMO: 0252590) in the Seychelles (Suite 3, 1st Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island Seychelles). The vessel received the right to fly the Guinean flag on June 9, 2025 through the Guinea Ship Registry in Odessa (30 Pishonovska St.), that is, even before the first call to the occupied port. It is noteworthy that the vessel’s flag is listed as “Guinea False” in the Equasis database.
“Caffa” is now heading to the Bosphorus, indicating the Turkish port of destination as Iskenderun.
The day before, USM wrote that the invaders were exporting another 10,000 tons of stolen wheat from Sevastopol.
