Working Conditions Aboard the Marathon

In a recent maritime maneuver, the tanker 'Marathon', linked to Russia’s controversial shadow fleet, made a bid to stealthily navigate through Estonia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The incident occurred between June 11 and 13, 2025, as the vessel operated without valid registration, a condition that would have permitted Estonian authorities to lawfully intercept and detain the ship. The 'Marathon' slowed almost to a standstill for around 28 hours prior to breaching Estonian waters, strategically timing its passage to occur shortly before dawn on June 13 at around 4:00 a.m. UTC. Throughout its journey across the Baltic Sea, the vessel maintained a continuous course toward Russia without dropping anchor or making any stops, raising suspicions of its intent. Notably, Estonian officials observed no boarding or escort movements during the transit, indicating the crew's intent to minimize their visibility and potential for detection, especially during daylight hours when aerial monitoring by authorities poses a greater threat. The careful timing of the 'Marathon’s' crossing also suggests an awareness of known interception areas, as the vessel did not accelerate in regions previously monitored by enforcement. The ship, which broadcast an AIS signal indicating a Cameroon flag, factually lost its registration with Djibouti due to EU sanctions, leaving it effectively without an official flag. This calculated approach likely aimed to evade any possibility of a regulatory boarding by navigating at night and bypassing anchorage points. After its brief encounter with Estonia, the 'Marathon' entered the port of Primorsk in Russia's Leningrad Region on June 15, where its draft appeared to increase, presumably due to cargo loading activities. Following this, the vessel set sail on June 16 with its next listed destination being Port Said, Egypt. It's worth noting that the 'Marathon' remains under sanctions imposed by the UK, EU, and Canada, underscoring the ongoing scrutiny surrounding vessels linked to sanctioned nations.