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In a decisive move to curb support for Russia’s military operations, the European Union has unveiled its latest sanctions package on December 16, 2024, during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. This new initiative has resulted in the addition of 52 vessels, including the 'Attica', to the sanctions list, all identified as contributing to Russia’s war efforts. These sanctions specifically target ships that are involved in circumventing the oil price cap established by Western nations, facilitating arms deliveries, and transporting stolen grain. With this update, the total number of vessels under EU sanctions now stands at 79. The majority of these vessels are implicated in the transport of Russian oil and in supplying arms to the Russian military. Furthermore, the latest package expands its reach, targeting 54 individuals and 30 entities alleged to support Russia’s military agenda. Notable among these are entities and individuals from China and North Korea, accused of supplying dual-use materials critical to Russia's military capabilities. The sanctions package includes two high-ranking officials from North Korea and seven individuals and companies from China. The overarching goal of these sanctions is to escalate the operational expenses for Russia, effectively preventing access to EU ports and restricting essential maritime services.

The tanker 'Attica', which recently transported an impressive 730,000 barrels of Urals crude oil from the Russian port of St. Petersburg to Vadinar, was spotted on December 5, 2024, making its way toward the Shetland Islands. This potential detour around the northern coast of the UK, which would have lengthened its journey by nearly two days (25%), was unexpectedly abandoned. Instead, the vessel opted for a more conventional route through the English Channel. This decision comes after the UK imposed sanctions on the 'Attica' in November for its involvement in Russian oil transport. By December 9, the tanker was reported to be heading toward northern Spain. In a proactive effort to confront this so-called shadow fleet, three UK government agencies are collaborating to scrutinize such vessels that may possess questionable insurance while navigating through UK waters. It is worth noting that one ship that disregarded these warnings was subsequently added to a blacklist.

On the evening of October 3, 2020, the oil tanker 'Syra' encountered a significant incident while loading at the Rudhum/Al-Nashima terminal in Yemen. At approximately 8 p.m., the vessel was struck by an explosion caused by a marine mine, which had been reportedly deployed by militias from the Southern Transitional Council. Following the blast, the crew of the 'Syra' promptly halted all loading operations. Although the tanker sustained minor damage, it was able to depart the terminal the following morning, October 4, at 7 a.m., setting sail for Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates. Upon its arrival on October 9, the vessel was scheduled for a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the extent of the damages, which included reports of damage to one ballast tank.