Discover the Selva: Ratings & Maritime News

In intriguing developments in the Baltic Sea, two stateless tankers, 'Sierra' (IMO: 9522324) and 'Naxos', were recently observed making their way towards Russian oil operations. These tankers were accompanied by the Russian Steregushchy-class corvette 'Boikiy' amidst increasing scrutiny from the Baltic nations and the EU aimed at dismantling the shadow fleet. This heightened vigilance follows Estonia's recent attempts to inspect another suspected stateless tanker. On June 21, the 'Boikiy' reportedly masked its identity by transmitting false ID signals while navigating through the English Channel alongside the two sanctioned tankers. Originating from West Africa, the corvette had previously docked in Conakry for a diplomatic mission before setting sail without activating its Automatic Identification System (AIS). Interestingly, during its voyage, a vessel identified solely by the number 400000000 briefly appeared near the Canary Islands. This code has been associated with vessels wishing to signal their presence without revealing their full identities. The 'Boikiy' provided an approximate travel time of 200 kilometers from Conakry, later meeting with 'Sierra' and 'Naxos' that had journeyed from India, through the Suez Canal and across the Mediterranean, eventually reconvening at the mouth of the Channel on June 20. While the 'Naxos' arrived at the Channel entrance ahead of the other vessels, it chose to wait for the corvette before proceeding into the Channel. The Royal Navy closely monitored the movements of the 'Boikiy' during this time. Following their passage through the Channel, the three ships reached the Kattegat, although both tankers failed to provide accurate destination information on their AIS systems. Both 'Sierra' and 'Naxos' have faced sanctions from the UK, with the latter also facing EU restrictions. These tankers are linked to companies based in Dubai and India. The 'Naxos' has been known to alternate its name to 'Selva', flying the flag of Palau after previously flying Panama. Initially registered in the Marshall Islands and later in St. Kitts and Nevis, the 'Naxos' has created confusion concerning its nationality. On the other hand, 'Sierra' is currently registered under the flag of Malawi after earlier registrations in São Tomé & Principe in 2023 and before that, in Barbados and Gabon. This vessel was formerly known as 'Suvorovsky Prospect', having been managed by Russia’s Sovcomflot until 2022. The 'Boikiy' has been reportedly utilized for escorting various merchant ships. This includes mid-May sightings escorting Russian cargo vessels 'Siyanie Severa' and 'Patria' into the Atlantic. The UK's Royal Navy has kept a close eye on the vessel during English Channel transits as well. In further developments last week, Denmark identified another stateless tanker en route to Russia, having evaded authorities by purporting to be registered in Comoros. Although Denmark tracked the vessel into and out of the Baltic, it opted against an interception. Meanwhile, nations like Sweden are vowing to enhance their enforcement if stateless tankers approach their waters. The EU and the UK have expanded their listings of sanctioned tankers, as the illicit maritime operations continue to draw international concern.

On June 12, a medical emergency unfolded aboard the cargo vessel 'Naxos' anchored at Şevketiye, prompting an immediate medevac operation. The Coastal Safety Authority swiftly intervened, dispatching the lifeboat 'Kiyem 9' to execute the mission. The crew member in distress was successfully transferred using a rescue basket and subsequently taken to the Lapseki shore to receive urgent medical attention from local healthcare teams. This incident underscores the critical role of maritime safety services in ensuring the well-being of seafarers. For further details, you can view a related photo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1668327507882541056.