Daksha Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On November 25, the UK government escalated its measures against the Russian Shadow Fleet, imposing sanctions on 30 vessels, prominently including the tanker 'Daksha'. This decisive action aims to disrupt Russia's illicit oil transport operations, which have significantly contributed to the financing of its ongoing military offensive in Ukraine. Alongside these maritime sanctions, two Russian insurance firms, Alfastrakhovanie PLC and VSK, have also been penalized for facilitating these operations. The sanctions are designed to impede Russia's oil revenues, which have amounted to over $4.3 billion in oil and derivatives transported by this fleet over the past year. With this latest sanctions package, the UK has now sanctioned a total of 73 vessels, making it the leading nation in targeting the Russian Shadow Fleet. In a collective effort, the UK has called upon other nations to join its initiative, and so far, 46 countries have responded positively. The vessels making up this shadow fleet are notorious for engaging in deceptive maritime practices and suffer from poor maintenance, raising serious safety concerns for other ships navigating international waters. By tackling these vessels and their insurers, the UK not only aims to restrict Russian oil access but also to enhance safety on shipping lanes. Under the new sanctions, the specified vessels are barred from entering UK ports, and the authorities have retained the right to control their movements and detain them if necessary. Additionally, these vessels will no longer be registered on the UK Ship Register, and existing registrations will be revoked. Importantly, they will also be excluded from benefiting from price cap exemptions, regardless of any qualifying transactions under the Oil Price Cap Exception. This comprehensive sanctions approach underscores the UK’s commitment to curtailing Russia’s capabilities and ensuring safer seas.

In a recent development, four Russian tankers have been immobilized at sea as a result of new U.S. sanctions linked to Iran. The vessels involved are the 'Anthea' (IMO: 9281683), 'Elsa' (IMO: 9256468), 'Hebe' (IMO: 9282522), and 'Baxter' (IMO: 9282522). These sanctions were enacted on April 4, 2024, targeting the shipping enterprise Oceanlink Maritime DMCC and its fleet due to their suspected operations in transporting goods for the Iranian military. The U.S. Treasury Department's aim is to further isolate Iran and impede its financial routes, particularly those allegedly aiding Russian activities in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Among the affected vessels, the 'Anthea' was reported to have taken on 200,000 metric tons of Russian Ural crude oil through a Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer from two ships near the Laconian Gulf in late March, making its way to Singapore with an estimated arrival set for April 30. The 'Elsa' has a capacity of 100,000 metric tons of fuel oil, which was also transferred via STS close to the Port of Kalamata. This fuel was originally sourced from St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga ports in Russia, and the 'Elsa' is currently en route to Qingdao with an expected arrival date of May 12. The 'Hebe' has been loaded with 100,000 metric tons of fuel oil from St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga, now heading towards the Suez Canal, although its final destination remains unspecified. Meanwhile, the 'Baxter,' carrying naphtha from the Black Sea's Novorossiysk port, has found itself drifting in the Arabian Sea since April 5, 2024. These developments underscore the continued tension in global maritime operations concerning sanctions and their enforcement against entities believed to be linked to Iran and Russia.