US cracks down on 'shadow fleet': Why countries use it to move oil, how it operates, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The US has intensified its crackdown on "shadow fleet" tankers, which use deceptive practices to transport sanctioned oil and commodities.
• The US seized three oil tankers (Olina, Marinera, and Sophia) this week for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude oil.
• Last month, the US seized two oil tankers (Centuries and Skipper) for alleged involvement in Venezuelan oil trade.
• Shadow fleets are crucial for transporting oil from countries under Western sanctions, including Iran, Venezuela, and Russia.

Detailed Insights:

• Shadow fleets use deceptive maritime practices and opaque ownership structures to conceal their true ownership and evade sanctions.
• The dark fleet deliberately hides activity through AIS-off behavior, GNSS manipulation, and covert ship-to-ship transfers.
• The grey fleet exhibits risk indicators like irregular trading routes and rapid ownership changes but isn't necessarily sanctioned.
• Gatik Ship Management, a Mumbai-based shipper, emerged as a major transporter of Russian crude between 2022 and 2023.
• Shadow fleet tankers often disable their AIS transponders or engage in GNSS spoofing to hide their location during sanctioned activities.
• Ship-to-ship (STS) transfers are frequently used by shadow fleet tankers in high seas to obscure the origin of the oil.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shadow Fleet: Vessels using deceptive practices to transport sanctioned goods.
• AIS (Automatic Identification System): A transponder system tracking vessel identity and location.
• GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): A satellite navigation system used to determine location.
• Sanctions Evasion: Actions taken to avoid penalties imposed on restricted trade.