Hoisting Russian flags and seeking protection, ‘shadow fleet’ edges into the light, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The oil tanker Bella 1, renamed Marinera, hastily adopted the Russian flag while fleeing the US military.
• The US Coast Guard intercepted the Marinera in waters between Iceland and Scotland, despite the vessel's claim of Russian protection.
• Five tankers operating in Venezuelan waters, including the Marinera, have recently switched to the Russian flag to avoid US sanctions.
• Over 40 shadow fleet tankers have registered with Russia since June, with 17 doing so last month alone.

Detailed Insights:

• Shadow tanker vessels provide a lifeline to sanctioned states like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, enabling them to evade restrictions by covertly shipping oil.
• These vessels often use flags of convenience or operate without any flag to conceal the involvement of the countries employing them.
• By seeking Russian protection, these tankers aim to deter Western nations from enforcing sanctions against the illicit oil trade.
• The US considered the Guyana flag previously used by the Bella 1 as fake, rendering it a stateless vessel subject to boarding under international law.
• Russia made a formal diplomatic request for the US to cease its pursuit of the Marinera after it was added to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shadow Fleet: A collection of vessels used to covertly transport oil and other goods, often to evade sanctions.
• Flags of Convenience: Flags of countries with lax regulations, used by ship owners to avoid stricter rules and oversight.
• Sanctions: Economic or political penalties imposed by one country on another to enforce compliance with international law or policy.