(Commonwealth_ The UK government has unveiled its most extensive sanctions package to date, targeting the shadow tanker fleet involved in the clandestine oil trade. This move, aimed at curbing revenues from Russia’s oil exports, includes sanctions on 30 tankers and two insurance companies, marking a significant escalation in efforts to limit the shadow fleet’s activities. The UK is also calling on other nations to strengthen their measures and align with its stance in support of Ukraine.
“The shadow fleet also poses significant risks to global trade,” the UK stated, emphasizing that many of these tankers engage in deceptive practices and disregard basic safety standards. This negligence increases the likelihood of catastrophic oil spills, posing environmental threats. The UK’s sanctions also target companies ensuring these vessels, with officials highlighting the importance of constraining revenues from this trade to enhance global security.
The shadow fleet, which has seen substantial growth since Western nations began limiting Russia’s oil trade, has become a critical component of the illicit oil market. Recent data from S&P Global revealed that 889 tankers, each with a capacity of at least 27,000 deadweight tons (dwt), have been used to transport sanctioned oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. This fleet represents over 111.6 million dwt, accounting for 17 percent of the global tanker fleet.
Expanding the scope of UK sanctions
Unlike previous UK efforts that primarily focused on vessels using international registries, this latest initiative broadens its reach. Among the listed tankers are 11 indirectly controlled by Sovcomflot, Russia’s state-owned shipping company, through subsidiaries Invest Fleet in St. Petersburg and South Fleet. The UK has described two Russian insurers, Alfastrakhovanie and VSK, as “dubious insurers” due to their role in enabling the shadow fleet.
The targeted vessels operate under a diverse range of flags and management, often obscuring their origins. Many are managed from India or China, with seven registered in Panama. Other registrations span countries such as Gabon, Barbados, Sierra Leone, Cook Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda. Two vessels were flagged for false registry data: the Valour (113,000 dwt) falsely reported as registered in Guinea, and the Daksha (10,000 dwt), falsely claiming a Comoros registry.
Increasing pressure on the Shadow Fleet.
The sanctions empower the UK to bar these tankers from entering its ports. Following last month’s sanctions, vessels such as the Artemis (117,000 dwt, registered in Gabon) and Sea Fidelity (115,000 dwt, registered in the Cook Islands) have remained idle in the Baltic Sea. The UK now leads global efforts in sanctioning the shadow fleet, with 73 tankers on its blacklist, surpassing the United States’ 39 and the European Union’s 19. The UK estimates that half of the vessels sanctioned in this latest round transported over $4.3 billion worth of oil and petroleum products, including gasoline, in the past year.
International Coordination and Future Steps
The announcement coincides with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s meetings with G7 foreign ministers, where he is advocating for greater international collaboration. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously noted that 46 countries, alongside the European Union, are actively participating in sanctions against the shadow fleet. Lammy aims to encourage further support during these discussions. The EU is also preparing for its next phase of sanctions. On November 14, the European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a resolution urging stricter enforcement of the price cap on Russian oil, including measures to crack down on the shadow fleet.
