Primorye Vessel Reviews and Specifications

Recent investigations have uncovered the illicit transshipment of sanctioned Russian oil in the Gulf of Oman, intended for the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery located in Punjab, India. This facility is co-owned by Mittal Energy, highlighting the international dimension of the transaction. The operation involved four sanctioned tankers that loaded their cargo in Murmansk: the 'Belgorod' (IMO: 9412359), 'Danshui' (IMO: 9589750), 'Dignity' (IMO: 9283241), and 'Primorye'. Each of these vessels has been placed under sanctions by the USA (OFAC), UK (OFSI), and the EU due to their involvement in transporting Russian oil. The receiving vessel, 'Samadha' (IMO: 9286281), is operated by Seychelles-registered Erika Freight Ltd., which has connections to several vessels involved in shadowy shipping operations. The ship-to-ship transfer occurred approximately 40 nautical miles east of Sohar, within international waters, to avoid detection. As the sanctioned tankers approached the Gulf of Oman, they disabled their AIS transponders to evade tracking. In a deceptive move, the 'Samadha' transmitted a spoofed AIS signal, suggesting it had taken a circular route from India to Oman, thus falsely indicating it had not encountered the sanctioned tankers. The total value of the oil transported during this period, from July to September, is estimated at around $280 million. The 'Samadha' was sanctioned by the OFSI on October 15, 2025, while the EU imposed sanctions on it earlier on July 20. Currently, 'Samadha' is not blacklisted by OFAC, although its previous ties were noted with the now-defunct NorthStandard P&I Association, leaving questions about its post-sanctions insurance status. After unloading its cargo at Mundra on the Gujarati coast, the 'Samadha' connected to Asia’s extensive crude pipeline heading towards the Guru Gobind Singh refinery, a joint project between Hindustan Petroleum Company and Mittal Energy Ltd. Notably, Lakshmi Mittal, the executive chairman of Arcelor Mittal, recently announced his intention to relinquish his UK residency for tax considerations, despite substantial investments in steel and mining across both the EU and UK. The most current AIS data indicates that the 'Samadha' is now off the coast of Russia's Kola Peninsula, heading back to Murmansk, suggesting further clandestine operations may be underway. For visual references, please see photos at: https://x.com/TankerTrackers/status/1983452592362434679.

In a recent development, Trafigura Beheer BV has successfully finalized a charter agreement, locking in a rate of $41,000 per day for a duration of one year. This strategic move highlights the continued demand for shipping services in the global market. Further details about the specific vessel and routes involved in this charter arrangement are anticipated to be released soon, providing insight into Trafigura’s operational plans for the upcoming year. Stay tuned for updates on this noteworthy charter agreement.