What Crew Members Say About Lily

On March 13, 2025, the oil tanker 'Daban' made headlines as it unloaded a substantial cargo of Russian crude in Qingdao, China. This VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), carrying an impressive two million barrels of Russian Sokol oil, followed a complex path after transferring its cargo from three smaller tankers previously sanctioned by the U.S. The offloading occurred at a berth operated by Qingdao Haiye Group, bringing an unusual month-long journey to a close that underscores the lengths to which producers and traders are going to maintain the flow of Russian oil amidst strict international restrictions. Initially destined for the Shandong province port of Yantai, a well-known refining hub and a key entry point for oil shipments facing U.S. sanctions, the cargo was ultimately rejected by local authorities in Yantai. The 'Daban' had earlier completed ship-to-ship transfers from the tankers 'Vladimir Arsenyev' on February 3, 'Kapitan Kostichev' on February 9, and 'Victor Konetsky' on February 10, all conducted in the relatively obscure Nakhoda Bay in Russian territorial waters. This location is not typically recognized for oil transfers, drawing attention to the movements of the 'Daban.' The vessel is managed by Confident Apex Ltd., a company based in Hong Kong, although contact details for the firm were not available at the time of reporting.

On April 14, 2018, the tanker 'Altair Trader' performed a remarkable act of bravery in the South China Sea when its crew rescued a stranded castaway at approximately 7:10 p.m. The vessel was en route to Kawasaki when the crew spotted a glimmer of light on the water's surface to their starboard side. Recognizing the signal, the crew swiftly altered course to initiate rescue operations. Within just over an hour, at 8:30 p.m., they successfully retrieved the man from the open sea. Following the rescue, the next day on April 15 at 10:30 p.m., the survivor was safely handed over to local authorities at Nha Trang Port, following directives from the Vietnamese Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers. This event underscores the critical importance of maritime vigilance and swift action in saving lives at sea.