‘Shadow fleet’ ships moving sanctioned oil reflagged to Russia at rising rate

A growing number of ships involved in transporting sanctioned oil, often referred to as a "shadow fleet," have been reflagged to Russia. Lloyd's List Intelligence reports a surge in these re-registrations, particularly after Donald Trump's announcement of a US "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers. In 2023, 40 ships were reflagged to Russia, with at least 17 in the last month of the year. The move is seen as an attempt to gain Kremlin protection from potential US seizure. The US military has recently seized multiple tankers, including the Marinera and M/T Sophia, carrying Venezuelan oil, despite attempts to evade intervention through false flags, including a Russian flag. As of October, Lloyd's List Intelligence estimates the shadow fleet to consist of 1,423 ships suspected of moving sanctioned goods for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

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.

The Marinera, a rusty oil tanker, has become the center of international attention after being seized by US forces in the Atlantic. The ship is suspected of being part of a "ghost fleet" used by Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to evade Western sanctions. The US Coast Guard attempted to board the ship in December, but the crew refused. The US Treasury has sanctioned the Marinera since June 2024 for allegedly carrying illicit cargo for Hezbollah. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1, recently changed its flag to Russian, prompting a formal protest from Moscow after the US boarding. Theories for the intense interest in the Marinera range from suspicions of hidden Russian weapons to its potential as a symbolic trophy in the US-Russia power struggle.

Russia has sent a naval vessel to escort an oil tanker, formerly known as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, which the United States is attempting to seize. The U.S. has been pursuing the tanker for weeks after it allegedly tried to evade a partial blockade around Venezuela. The U.S. Coast Guard initially stopped the tanker in the Caribbean Sea on December 21st, claiming it lacked a valid flag, but the ship refused boarding and sailed into the Atlantic. Russia has taken steps to protect the tanker, including adding it to a Russian ship database and requesting the U.S. cease its pursuit. The tanker is currently sailing northeast in the Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Britain.