Australia sanctions 60 Russian ‘shadow fleet’ vessels aiding Ukraine war
Australia has sanctioned 60 vessels linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ for helping Moscow evade international restrictions and fund its war on Ukraine
This marks Canberra’s first direct action against ships involved in illicit Russian oil trade. All 60 vessels have already been designated under various Western sanctions regimes, including those of the EU, UK, Canada and the US
THE Australian government has imposed sanctions on 60 vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”*, as the country’s prime minister Anthony Albanese joined G7 leaders in condemning Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
It marks the first time Canberra has directly penalised ships helping Moscow skirt wide-ranging economic curbs resulting from the Ukraine invasion, which Russia calls a “special military operation”.
In a June 18 statement, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the blacklisted ships, which often disable their tracking systems and register under flags of convenience, are being used to enable the illicit trading of Russian oil and other sanctioned goods.
“Russia uses these vessels to circumvent international sanctions and sustain its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine,” she said, adding that Australia remained committed to ensuring Russia faces consequences.
The sanctions reinforce similar restrictions unveiled recently by Canada, the UK and the European Union that seek to starve Russia’s military of revenue from oil trade.
All these 60 vessels have already been designated under various Western sanctions regimes, including those of the EU, UK, Canada and the US, with most appearing on multiple lists.
The EU is also planning to push for lowering the price cap on Russian crude, but whether it can obtain the support of G7 member countries, especially the US, remains unclear.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than three years ago, Australia has imposed more than 1,400 sanctions related to the assault on Ukraine.
“We once again call on Russia to immediately end this war and withdraw from Ukrainian territory,” Wong said, adding that Canberra remained steadfast in backing Kyiv’s sovereignty.
The foreign minister spoke as Albanese conferred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other world leaders at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.
Seasearcher sanctioned ships list: Andaman Skies (IMO: 9288693), Noctis (IMO: 9258868), Bull (IMO: 9292503), Mocha (IMO: 9271951), Fast Kathy (IMO: 9408205), Garasan (IMO: 9323986), Benedict (IMO: 9293155), Starlit (IMO: 9257022), Aqua Titan (IMO: 9332781), Udaya (IMO: 9288746), Dashan (IMO: 9299666), Olina (IMO: 9282479), Dianchi (IMO: 9281011), Ascendant (IMO: 9248801), Nurkez (IMO: 9253325), Ocean Faye (IMO: 9321689), Serena (IMO: 9255660), Sagar Violet (IMO: 9292981), Sagitta (IMO: 9296822), Swiftsea Rider (IMO: 9318539), Utaki (IMO: 9262924), Nichole (IMO: 9332822), Ocean Embrace (IMO: 9327372), Ederra (IMO: 9258026), Temiro (IMO: 9209972), Noble (IMO: 9333400), Wilma II (IMO: 9247431), Pravasi (IMO: 9409467), Victor Konetsky (IMO: 9301421), Yuri Senkevich (IMO: 9301419), Viktor Titov (IMO: 9301407), Crius (IMO: 9251274), Chen Lu (IMO: 9404948), Prosperity (IMO: 9322956), Tasta (IMO: 9307815), Aria (IMO: 9397559), Unity (IMO: 9388792), Sauri (IMO: 9266475), Corus (IMO: 9544281), Night Glory (IMO: 9319674), Oilstar (IMO: 9310525), Jumbo (IMO: 9290335), Bai Lu (IMO: 9388780), Nikolay Zadornov (IMO: 9901037), Achilles (IMO: 9368223), Divya (IMO: 9319703), Jun Ma (IMO: 9353113), Surya (IMO: 9388742), Fu Hai Wan (IMO: 9368235), Ru Yi (IMO: 9345623), Ganga (IMO: 9378620), Samudra (IMO: 9337901), Sooraj (IMO: 9332834), Kira K (IMO: 9346720), Ji Xiang (IMO: 9384459), Jaldhara (IMO: 9304825), Astral (IMO: 9274800), Destan (IMO: 9388766), Jupiter I (IMO: 9599341), Ma Jin (IMO: 9346744)
* Lloyd’s List defines a tanker as part of the dark fleet if it is aged 15 years or over, anonymously owned and/or has a corporate structure designed to obfuscate beneficial ownership discovery, solely deployed in sanctioned oil trades, and engaged in one or more of the deceptive shipping practices outlined in US State Department guidance issued in May 2020. The figures exclude tankers tracked to government-controlled shipping entities such as Russia’s Sovcomflot, or Iran’s National Iranian Tanker Co, and those already sanctioned.
