The Matros-Shevchenko: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On January 7, 2026, the 'Matros Shevchenko', a vessel linked to the clandestine Russian shadow fleet, sailed past the Canary Islands carrying a cargo of radioactive material. This ship is known for its routine shipments of raw uranium, specifically uranium ore, originating from Togo and destined for Russia. The uranium is sourced from Niger, a Sahelian nation renowned for housing one of the globe's largest deposits of natural uranium. Notably, this operation forms part of Russia's strategy to sidestep EU sanctions while maintaining its supply chain for vital resources.

The bulk carrier 'Mikhail Nenashev' is among a fleet of approximately ten vessels ferrying grain from contested areas in Ukraine to Iran. As Russian vessels increasingly load agricultural products from Crimea and other regions under occupation, a substantial quantity of grain sourced from Mariupol, Berdiansk, and Azov is being directed towards Iranian markets. It's important to note that while Western-imposed sanctions affect Ukrainian grain exports, grain from Russia escapes such restrictions. In some scenarios, the grain is sent straight to Iranian ports; in others, it undergoes a ship-to-ship transfer between smaller ships and larger bulk carriers in the Kerch Strait, strategically located between Crimea and Russia. This method highlights how sanctions can be circumvented. Despite regular bombardments of Ukrainian grain terminals in Izmail and Neri by Russian forces, evidence suggests that Ukrainian grain is secretively smuggled out from Sevastopol. The 'Mikhail Nenashev' was recently tracked on its way to the Russian port of Kavkaz, with its AIS signal disappearing near an anchorage south of Crimea. Just days later, satellite imagery revealed a vessel identical to 'Mikhail Nenashev' loading grain at the Avlita terminal in Odesa. The ship was also captured on camera while transitioning through the Bosphorus, and later photographed with its cargo hatches open in Bandar Khomeni port. There are reports of the AIS signal vanishing north of Cyprus only to reappear weeks later as the vessel navigated the northern Black Sea. Overall, around ten bulk carriers are actively participating in these operations. Besides the 'Mikhail Nenashev,' other ships such as 'Matros Shevchenko,' 'Matros Koshka,' and 'Matros Pozynich' are currently en route to Syria and Iran. Additionally, Turkey received grain shipments from these operations during the initial year of the ongoing conflict. Initially, these transports all departed from Sevastopol; however, it has been revealed that vessels are now also setting sail from the ports of Feodosia, Mariupol, Berdjansk, and Kerch. Notably, Syrian ships have frequently been observed at grain terminals in Sevastopol, suggesting an active involvement in this complex and contentious trade.

A tragic incident occurred on March 14, 2021, at 9:40 PM when the 61-year-old pilot of the MV 'Maria GS' fell into the water while attempting to transfer from the ship to a pilot boat at the port of Novorossiysk. Despite swift recovery efforts, resuscitation attempts were unfortunately unsuccessful, leading to the pilot's untimely death. Following the accident, the 'Maria GS' departed Novorossiysk and is scheduled to arrive at Tobrug on March 18.

In a recent maritime transaction, Japanese owners have offloaded their handysize vessel 'Prinsesa Sirena,' a ship built in 2011 with dry docking completed in November 2018. The sale to buyers from Greece was finalized at a price of USD 9.8 million. This deal highlights ongoing activity in the handysize segment of the shipping market, demonstrating the continued interest in versatile bulk carriers.