What Crew Members Say About Medna

On February 6, 2025, the United States government unveiled a significant sanctions package aimed at disrupting the trade of Iranian crude oil. Among the key focus of these sanctions is the tanker 'CH Billion', which reportedly loaded more than 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude from a Tehran-controlled vessel in the Singapore waters during 2024. This vessel has also been implicated in transporting oil from Russia’s Kozmino port. Last month, the entire fleet associated with this operation faced heavy sanctions, including two other tankers: 'Gioiosa' and 'Star Forest'. Additionally, the 'Siri' tanker has come under scrutiny; despite already being sanctioned, it attempted to evade detection by altering its identity. This was achieved through falsified documentation and obscuring its name to mislead authorities, passing it off as a different vessel named 'New Prime'. The recent sanctions extend beyond ships, targeting multiple individuals and entities around the globe involved in this illicit trade, purportedly in support of Tehran's Armed Forces General Staff and its sanctioned affiliate, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars.

On December 16, 2024, during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the European Union unveiled its latest sanctions package, which now includes 52 additional vessels, including the 'Siri.' This decisive action targets entities identified by the EU as aiding Russia's military endeavors amid the ongoing conflict. These sanctioned vessels are reportedly engaged in evading the oil price cap established by Western nations, transporting arms, and moving stolen grain. With this new package, the total number of vessels on the EU sanctions list has risen to 79, primarily those linked to the transport of Russian oil and military supplies. Additionally, the sanctions extend to 54 individuals and 30 entities, many of which are associated with facilitating Russia's war efforts. Notably, entities and individuals from China and North Korea are also encompassed, with particular focus on two senior North Korean officials and seven Chinese individuals and companies accused of providing dual-use materials to support Russia's military. The overarching goal of these sanctions is to amplify the operational costs for Russia by restricting access to EU ports and limiting maritime service provisions.

In the latest development of ongoing geopolitical tensions, four Russian tankers—'Anthea', 'Elsa' (IMO: 9256468), 'Hebe' (IMO: 9259185), and 'Baxter'—are currently immobilized at sea due to new sanctions imposed by the United States on April 4, 2024. These sanctions specifically target Oceanlink Maritime DMCC, the shipping company associated with the vessels, over allegations of transporting goods for the Iranian military. The U.S. Treasury Department's objective is clear: to isolate Iran and hinder its ability to financially support proxy entities involved in the Ukraine conflict. The 'Anthea' recently loaded 200,000 metric tons of Russian Ural crude oil through a ship-to-ship transfer near the Gulf of Laconia in late March and is now en route to Singapore, with an estimated time of arrival by April 30. Meanwhile, 'Elsa' has taken on 100,000 metric tons of fuel oil, sourced from St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga ports, while anchoring near the Port of Kalamata; the vessel is heading to Qingdao, with an ETA of May 12. In a similar situation, the 'Hebe' is currently laden with 100,000 metric tons of fuel oil also obtained from St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga and is making its way toward the Suez Canal, though its final destination remains unspecified. Lastly, the 'Baxter' (IMO: 9282522), which is carrying naphtha from Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, has been drifting in the Arabian Sea since April 5, effectively hampered by the recent sanctions. These developments underscore the ongoing complexities of maritime trade amidst sanctions and the implications for international shipping routes.