What Crew Members Say About Kapitan-Schemilkin

In a revealing investigation by Global Fishing Watch (GFW), the Russian tanker 'Kapitan Schemilkin', IMO: 9083004, has been found to manipulate its AIS signals while operating in the vicinity of Malta, aiming to camouflage its activities amidst international sanctions. This vessel was reportedly engaging in what seems to be a training operation intended to facilitate the evasion of European Union and G7 oil shipment sanctions against Russia, which have been in place since December 5, 2022. According to the report, the 'Kapitan Schemilkin' falsely transmitted its location as it appeared to be navigating in circles near Greece. In reality, the vessel was anchored off the eastern coast of Malta, and it is presumed to have delivered fuel supplies to Northern Cyprus after its stay. This deceptive maneuvering was part of a broader strategy as intelligence suggests that Russia has developed a covert fleet of over 100 tankers to transport its crude oil, circumventing the aforementioned sanctions. The tanker initially docked at an offshore mooring near Malta, where it was stationed from May to July, before heading to the Teknecik power plant in Northern Cyprus in August. GFW's findings indicate that the vessel utilized sophisticated methods commonly adopted by sanctioned regimes such as Venezuela and Iran, which include sending inaccurate positions via its AIS transponder. This enabled the 'Kapitan Schemilkin' to falsely report its location while simultaneously maintaining its presence near Malta and at the Northern Cypriot power facility. GFW's analysis was corroborated by imagery from the European Space Agency, confirming that the 'Kapitan Schemilkin' was not where it claimed to be. The AIS data showed explicit discrepancies, with the tanker sending out false location signals between May 28 and July 12, and again from August 16 to August 21. Actual location tracking indicated it was at the Malta Outer Port Limit and the Teknecik power plant during these periods. Further findings by SkyTruth, in collaboration with GFW, revealed that while the tanker communicated fictitious destinations, it simultaneously provided accurate information regarding its intended stops, including Malta and Northern Cyprus, along with estimated arrival times. Satellite imagery indicated that the vessel remained anchored near Malta for several weeks before reportedly delivering fuel to the Teknecik Power Plant on August 19 and 20. This delivery coincided with reported power outages and contract controversies related to power supply at the facility. The 'Kapitan Schemilkin' is operated by Rostov-based company Rechmortrans, which has links to a firm sanctioned by the U.S. in 2021, stemming from previous oil shipments to Venezuela. This intricate network of evasion tactics sheds light on Russia's ongoing efforts to navigate international sanctions and continue vital oil exports amid increasing pressure from the global community.