‘Shadow fleet’ ships moving sanctioned oil reflagged to Russia at rising rate | Shipping industry
Forty ships accused of belonging to a large “shadow fleet” carrying sanctioned oil for Venezuela and others were flagged to Russia last year to ensure the Kremlin was protected from American takeover.
Analysis of Shipping Intelligence publication Lloyd’s List Of these, it suggests that at least 17 suspicious ships joined the Russian registry last month, compared to 15 ships in the previous five months of 2025.
The sudden movement appears to be linked to Donald Trump’s announcement last month of what he called a US “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela.
The term “shadow fleet” is defined by Lloyd’s List as ships using deceptive practices to allow them to transport goods, including oil and gas, in violation of sanctions and price caps.
On Thursday, a ship sanctioned by the United States over concerns it was involved in the illegal distribution of Russian oil was found passing through the Canal under a false name and a Cameroonian flag. Tracking data shows the ship was headed for Russia after leaving the Star Refinery refinery near Izmir in western Türkiye on December 30.
In 2024, only 18 ships identified as part of the shadow fleet were thought to have changed their national registrations to adopt the Russian flag, but Trump’s interest appears to have led many other ships to take the move as well.
The tanker Marinera, carrying Venezuelan oil, was known as Bella 1 before it was dramatically seized by US special forces on Monday. The tanker was trying to evade American intervention by changing its flag from a fake Guyanese flag to a Russian flag with a crude drawing painted on the side.
The tactic failed to protect the Marinera, or the second ship, known as M/T Sophia, which was seized in the Caribbean and taken to the US by the coast guard for engaging in “illegal activities.”
In early December, US special forces also captured Skipper, A tanker off the coast of Venezuela, which the US treasury sanctioned in 2022 following allegations of oil smuggling on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.
As of October, there were 1,423 ships in the shadow fleet suspected of carrying sanctioned goods destined for Russia, Iran and Venezuela, said Bridget Diakun, senior risk and compliance analyst at Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
According to data, the fleet was growing by about 10 ships per month. Diakun said there has been a sudden trend in recent weeks for some ships to apply to join the Russian registry.
Russia reportedly sent a submarine to escort the Marinera in the days before it was boarded by US special forces, and the Kremlin warned the White House of the intervention.
According to a analysis According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Russia’s shadow fleet is approximately 3.7 million barrels of oil per dayRepresenting 65% of Russia’s seaborne oil trade, it generates annual revenues estimated at between $87bn (£69bn) and $100bn (£80bn).
On Thursday, Scottish Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander defended Britain’s role in the seizure of the Marinera after Russia claimed it was a breach of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Alexander said: “This ship is part of the shadow fleet financing Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
“As the UK government and the United Kingdom, it is in our national interest to prevent the unlawful incitement of terrorism, conflict and misery in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere. So when the US asked us to provide operational assistance, including air surveillance support, we were absolutely ready to step in.”
“I think it is right and reasonable for us to work with our allies to counter the sanctions raid attempts that we regularly see from the Russians.”
