Flag-hopping shadow fleet starts to settle in Russia
- Shadow fleet ships are ending flag hopping in favour of direct Russian registration
- Russia’s ship register has increased in size by 40% since the invasion of Ukraine
- Shift towards Russia’s flag comes as EU is adding pressure on ship registers and seeking to board vessels
Russia’s willingness to directly flag ships operating in sanctioned trades points to a more permanent evolution of the shadow fleet, with direct oversight and protection from Moscow
