More than 20 “shadow fleet” tankers are registered in Moldova

At least 20 tankers engaged in illegal transportation of Russian oil and oil products are registered in Moldova.

According to an investigation by RISE Moldova, a group of companies registered in the country began operating a large fleet of tankers carrying Russian oil, Point reports.

RISE Moldova has identified several Moldovan companies that play an important role in the maritime transportation of Russian oil. They are controlled by third parties, and some of them were surprised to learn that their companies operate oil tankers.

Data provided in the investigation show that over the past 6-7 months, up to 2% of Russian oil was transported by tankers managed by Moldovan companies that do not even have employees in the country.

Most of these tankers are included in the so-called “shadow fleet” of Russia. Thus, the Kremlin is trying to avoid international sanctions. The number of “Moldovan” oil tankers detected by RISE Moldova exceeds 23 units – this is almost 6% of the “shadow fleet” of Russia.

If you believe the statements of the Chisinau company, which claims to operate a fleet of 50 tankers, then in reality the number of vessels may reach 70 units.

The Moldovan companies identified by RISE Moldova share several similarities and connections: they were registered after February 24, 2022; the name usually contains the words “ship management”, “delivery”; they have the same legal addresses; they have, more often than not, the same figures and errors in the informative notes to the financial statements.

“And it is not an easy task for us to determine who is the real owner of these vessels, since most often they are registered in jurisdictions where information is not available or databases are not open and information cannot be found,” said Benjamin Hilgenstock, senior economist at the Institute of the Kyiv School of Economics.

According to the Institute, only in the first half of 2024, the volume of oil and oil products from Russia transported by “Moldovan” tankers amounted to about 27.5 million barrels – approximately 3.75 million tons.

It will be recalled that on February 25, 2022, vessels on the raid of the Pivdennyi port were attacked by a missile. Then the Russians, in particular, attacked the tanker Millennial Spirit flying the flag of Moldova.

USM previously reported that Russia is creating a “shadow fleet” of gas carriers.