Reviews & Ratings for the Xd-Leo

In a significant shift in its maritime strategy, Russia has begun implementing military escort measures for its tankers by forming convoys, making access to these vessels more challenging. The Russian Navy has deployed the frigates 'Admiral Grigorovich' and 'Neustrashimiy' to safeguard these tankers. The 'Neustrashimiy' set sail from the Baltiysk naval base in Kaliningrad on July 2, 2026, and subsequently joined forces with the 'Admiral Grigorovich'. On July 6, three Russian oil tankers—the 'Provider', 'Nasledie', and 'Transformer'—were spotted in the North Sea, to the northwest of the island of Sylt, transporting nearly 300,000 tons of crude oil from the Baltic Sea, purportedly en route to Asia. Notably, these tankers had recently changed their flags from Malawi and the Comoros to Russia, a strategic maneuver conducted only weeks prior. Among them, the 'Transformer', previously recognized as the 'Grinch', was seized by French authorities in January and released after incurring a hefty fine. This 22-year-old tanker, once under the Comoros flag, now proclaims Sochi as its home port. France and Great Britain have cited Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as justification for their naval actions, which permits boarding operations when there are suspicions of a vessel flying a false flag. The decision to switch to the Russian flag is aimed at leveraging increased protection from the Russian Navy while complicating intervention efforts by EU member states. This strategic pivot underscores the impact that measures taken against the so-called 'shadow fleet' are having, driving costs for Russia upwards and diminishing its oil revenue. Moreover, operating under a Russian flag introduces additional logistical demands for vessel maintenance and servicing. There is also the heightened risk of Ukrainian military action targeting Russian-flagged ships, as evidenced by recent incidents in both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Consequently, the Russian Navy is required to boost its protective measures for these tankers to navigate through increasingly hostile waters. For an in-depth look into this unfolding maritime situation, view the full report with images here: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/russland-setzt-auf-neue-flagge-und-marine-zum-schutz-der-schattenflotte-W3BCPB2G4VCNXGBRIYUXXR66NU.html?utm_term=Autofeed&utm

On October 15, at 7 a.m. local time, the oil tanker "Almi Spirit" fell victim to an attempted piracy incident in the Singapore Strait near Kukup Anchorage, where it had been stationed since October 14. A group of six pirates managed to board the vessel but quickly retreated when the ship's captain activated the alarm system, alerting both the crew and authorities. Fortunately, all 26 crew members, consisting of four Ukrainians, including the captain in his 50s, and 22 Filipinos, remained unharmed throughout the ordeal. Following the distress signal received at 6:10 a.m. by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the response team, including the patrol vessel "Rawa," arrived on the scene by 8:35 a.m. Additional support came from the vessels "Satria" and the agency's speed boat "Kilat." Early investigations suggested the pirates might have approached the "Almi Spirit" via a speedboat and used a hook-and-rope mechanism to climb aboard, as indicated by the evidence found on the deck. An MMEA team of 12 personnel has been assigned to investigate the situation further. They are meticulously screening all crew members while the captain is conducting a thorough inspection of the ship, which was transporting 180.18 million litres of marine fuel oil valued at approximately USD 23 million. Thankfully, the cargo remains intact. For more information and visuals, please visit the original report at http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/10/intruders-flee-when-captain-sounds-ship%E2%80%99s-alarm.