Hoisting Russian Flags, ‘Shadow Fleet’ Edges Into the Light

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Paul Sonne and Michael SchwirtzJanuary 8, 2026 at 06:00 AM

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long article 6 min

A growing number of "shadow fleet" oil tankers, used to circumvent sanctions, are adopting Russian flags to gain protection from Western enforcement. The Marinera, previously the Bella 1, switched to a Russian flag while being pursued by the U.S. military for illicit oil trade. Five tankers operating near Venezuela have recently made the switch, and over 40 have done so since last June, according to Lloyd's List. This trend reflects a desire for security, as these vessels have used multiple fake flags previously. In one instance, Russia intervened directly when Estonia stopped a tanker. These aged shadow vessels provide a lifeline to sanctioned countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Guyana 30% Estonia 40% Finland 40% Richard Meade 40% Iran 50% Venezuela ×260% Eagle S 60% Lloyd's List ×260% United States ×280% Marinera ×590% Russia ×890%

Keywords

shadow fleet 100% russian flag 90% oil tankers 80% marinera 70% illicit oil trade 70% u.s. sanctions 60% vessel seizure 60% russian protection 60% maritime security 50%