The violations of the EU and G7 embargo on seaborne exports of Russian petroleum products from the Black Sea in February-March 2023

16:52 26.04.2023

Russia

The Monitoring Group of BlackSeaNews
and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies

The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews reports on the results of its own monitoring of violations of the embargo on the seaborne exports of Russian petroleum products from the ports on the Black and Azov Seas in February-March 2023 (for details, see Table 2).

Summary

In February 2023, we recorded 11 tankers violating the EU and G7 embargo on Russian petroleum products imports from Black Sea ports. They transported 403,990 tons of petroleum products. All destinations of tankers carrying Russian petroleum products were in EU countries, including 1 – directly in the port of Motril, Spain. The rest of the destinations were in the areas of transhipment off the coast of Greece (9 tankers) and Malta (1 tanker).

In March 2023, the number of tankers violating the embargo increased to 17 vessels, and the volume of transported petroleum products reached 737,856 tons (a 82.6% increase compared to February 2023). In March 2023, the destinations of these tankers were not only EU countries but also the USA, including direct deliveries to the port of Wilmington, North Carolina, the USA, and the port of Rouen, France (1 tanker each). The rest of the destinations were transhipment areas off the coast of Greece (14 tankers) and Malta (1 tanker).

17 out of 28 embargo-violating tankers, or 60.7%, belong to shipowners from EU countries: 16 – to Greek ones and 1 – to an Italian shipowner. Of the 28 vessels, 6 tankers are registered under the flags of EU countries: 5 – Malta and 1 – Greece.

In March 2023, the exports of Russian petroleum products from Black Sea ports to EU and G7 countries decreased by 106,672 tons, or by 12.63%, compared to the previous month – from 844,528 to 737,856 tons, although they should have stopped altogether.

The full text of the analytical report

In February¹ 2023, the Monitoring Group recorded 11 tankers violating the EU and G7 embargo on Russian petroleum products. This figure refers to the number of tankers that left Russian ports starting from 5 February 2023, when the embargo came into effect..

¹ The Monitoring Group breaks down the data on vessels by calendar month based on the dates when tankers passed through the Dardanelles Strait..

They transported 403,990 tons of petroleum products. This accounts for 47.84% of the total volume of Russia's petroleum products that were imported to EU countries and the USA in February 2023. That is, the importers had tried very hard to import the other half of that volume from Russian ports before 5 February 2023.

In February 2023, all the ports of destination of tankers carrying Russian petroleum products in violation of the embargo were in EU countries:

Greece – 9 tankers, transhipment in the LAKONIKOS GULF; the total volume – 658,241 tons;
Malta – 1 tanker, transhipment in the MALTA OPL ANCH; the volume – 37,606 tons;
Spain – 1 tanker, arrived directly at the port of Motril, Granada – (ES MOT) MOTRIL; the volume – 12,970 tons. Tanker NEW SPIRIT, IMO 9337872, dwt 12,970 t, flag – Malta, port of departure – Taman (RU TAM), date of departure – 2023-02-17, 06:51, port of destination – (ES MOT) MOTRIL, date of arrival – 2023-03-06, 10:36; the ship-owning company is registered in Greece.

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In March 2023, the Monitoring Group recorded 17 tankers that delivered 737,856 tons of petroleum products in violation of the embargo (an 82.6% increase in volumes transported in violation of the embargo compared to February 2023).

The destinations of tankers carrying Russian petroleum products in March 2023 were EU countries and the USA:

The USA – 1 tanker arrived directly at the port of Wilmington, North Carolina – WILMINGTON NC (North Carolina); volume – 40,099 tons; Tanker MARINER A, IMO 9288954, dwt 40,099 t, flag – Malta, port of departure – Novorossiysk (RU NVS), date of departure – 2023-03-05, 17:18, port of destination – (US ILM) WILMINGTON NC, date of arrival – 2023-03-28, 22 :00; the ship-owning company is registered in Greece. See the corresponding row in Table 2 for more maps.
France – 1 tanker arrived directly at the port of Rouen (FR URO) ROUEN; volume – 46,012 tons; Tanker MRC BELIZ, IMO 9335044, dwt 46,012 t, flag – Malta, port of departure – Novorossiysk (RU NVS), date of departure – 2023-03-17, 13:24, port of destination – (FR URO) ROUEN, date of arrival – 2023-04-02, 02:19; the ship-owning company is registered in Turkey. See the corresponding row in Table 2 for more maps.
Malta – 1 tanker, transshipment in OPL VALLETTA; volume – 38,396 tons.
Greece – 14 tankers, transshipment in the LAKONIKOS GULF, PIRAEUS ANCH; 613,349 tons.

Thus, the situation with compliance with the EU and G7 embargo on seaborne imports of Russian petroleum products is more complicated than the one with the embargo on crude oil imports, where we have recorded a steady downward trend in the number of violations.

17 out of 28 embargo-violating tankers, or 60.7%, belong to shipowners from EU countries – Greece and Italy – 16 vessels and 1 vessel respectively.

It is worth mentioning that in the period from 31.03.2023 to 10.04.2023, a new transhipment area was (probably) recorded outside the territorial sea of Greece that is located not in the Laconian Gulf, which had already attracted media attention, but in the so-called Myrtoan Sea between the islands of Kýthira and Milos.

It was there that the presence of the Greek tanker AGIOS NIKOLAOS, IMO 9820283, was recorded with a trajectory typical of transhipment (see the map).

Table 1. The breakdown of tankers that transported Russian petroleum products from the Black Sea in February-March 2023 in violation of the EU and G7 embargo by shipowner’s country of registration

Shipowner’s country of registration	February 2023	March 2023
Greece [GR]	7	9
Italy [IT]	-	1
Turkey [TR]	1	2
Marshall Islands [MH]	-	1
DUBAI United Arab Emirates [AE] - Russia [RU]	1	3
Liberia [LR]	1	-
India [IN]	-	1
China [CN]	1	-
In total	11	17

In general, in March 2023, we recorded a total increase of 641,606 tons, or 21.45%, in seaborne exports of petroleum products from Russia’s ports on the Black and Azov Seas, which reached 3,632,499 tons (compared to 2,990,893 tons in February 2023). More details on this will be provided in a separate article.

Against this backdrop, in March 2023, the exports of Russian petroleum products from Black Sea ports to EU countries decreased by 106,672 tons, or by 12.63%, compared to the previous month – from 844,528 to 737,856 tons – although they should have stopped completely.

Table 2. Tankers that transported Russia’s petroleum products in violation of the embargo from Russian ports on the Black Sea to EU countries and the USA in February-March 2023

Data on shipowners and operators — from www.equasis.org

#	Name	IMO	DWT	Flag	Port of departure	Actual Time of Departure	Port of destination	Actual Time of Arrival	Shipowner
Greece [GR]
01	BUTTERFLY	9273246	46048	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-02-11 00:28	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-18 03:46	Ship manager/Commercial manager IMS SA 6-8, Aitolikou & Kastoros Streets, 185 45 Piraeus, Greece. Registered owner OCTANS SHIP LTD Care of IMS SA, 6-8, Aitolikou & Kastoros Streets, 185 45 Piraeus, Greece
02	PORTO FISCARDO	9561930	45945	Panama	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-02-12 18:44	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-18 05:00	Ship manager/Commercial manager SEA TRADE MARINE SA 108, Vasileos Pavlou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. Registered owner HASHIHAMA SHIPPING PTE LTD Care of Sea Trade Marine SA, 108, Vasileos Pavlou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece
03	ATLAS STAR	9376828	38289	Malta	RU TAM TAMAN	2023-02-13 01:00	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	ETA: 2023-02-17 18:00 Історія портів та треки видалені / Port history and tracks have been removed	Ship manager/Commercial manager LION BULK CARRIERS INC 1, Zisimopoulou Street & Poseidonos Avenue, Glyfada, 166 74 Athens, Greece. Registered owner ATLAS STAR SHIPPING LTD Care of Lion Bulk Carriers Inc, 1, Zisimopoulou Street & Poseidonos Avenue, Glyfada, 166 74 Athens, Greece.
04	NORTHSEA 1	9334296	6232	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-02-12 01:52	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-18 10:32	Ship manager/Commercial manager HS NORTHSEA I LTD 80, Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Registered owner HS NORTHSEA I LTD 80, Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia.
05	CHEETAH II	9222560	47131	Panama	RU NVS NOVOROS	2023-02-10 01:36	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-19 08:34	Ship manager/Commercial manager IMZA MARINE DENIZCILIK AS Akasya Sokak, Postane Mah, 5, Tuzla, 34070 Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner TRIDENT MODESTY LTD Care of Imza Marine Denizcilik AS, Akasya Sokak, Postane Mah, 5, Tuzla, 34070 Istanbul, Turkey.
06	PERICLES	9396488	50564	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-02-17 16:39	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-22 23:50	Ship manager/Commercial manager IMS SA 6-8, Aitolikou & Kastoros Streets, 185 45 Piraeus, Greece. Registered owner VERONA MARITIME SA Care of IMS SA, 6-8, Aitolikou & Kastoros Streets, 185 45 Piraeus, Greece
07	SEA MARINE 1	9255830	37463	Vietnam	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	2023-02-14 07:08	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-24 14:17	Ship manager/Commercial manager FARIVASHIP HK LTD Room 7B, One Capital Place, 18, Luard Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China. Registered owner FARIVASHIP HK LTD Room 7B, One Capital Place, 18, Luard Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China
08	NS STREAM	9318541	46941	Liberia	RU TAM TAMAN	2023-02-14 03:59	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-02-27 21:13	Ship manager/Commercial manager SUN SHIP MANAGEMENT Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner WASP NAVIGATION CO Care of SUN Ship Management (D) Ltd, Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
9	MARINER III	9236975	34801	Panama	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	2023-02-24 13:19	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-01 05:52	Ship manager/Commercial manager SEA TRADE MARINE SA 108, Vasileos Pavlou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. Registered owner OCEAN TRANSPORTATION MARITIME Care of Sea Trade Marine SA, 108, Vasileos Pavlou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece.
Malta [MT]
10	GAVI C	9391361	37606	Liberia	RU TAM TAMAN	2023-02-11 11:30	MT MALTA OPL ANCH	2023-02-22 02:12	Ship manager/Commercial manager CHEMNAV SHIPMANAGEMENT LTD National Road Athens, 6, Roupel Street, Athens-Lamia Road, Km 17, Kifisia, 145 64 Athens, Greece. Registered owner STEELTANK MARITIME LTD Care of Chemnav Shipmanagement Ltd, National Road Athens, 6, Roupel Street, Athens-Lamia Road, Km 17, Kifisia, 145 64 Athens, Greece.
Spain [ES]
11	NEW SPIRIT	9337872	12970	Malta	RU TAM TAMAN	2023-02-17 06:51	ES MOT MOTRIL	2023-03-06 10:36	Ship manager/Commercial manager PROTANK MANAGEMENT SA 44, Tatoiou Street, Kifisia, 145 61 Athens, Greece. Registered owner VICTORIA MARITIME CO Care of Protank Management SA, 44, Tatoiou Street, Kifisia, 145 61 Athens, Greece

March 2023

USA [US]
01	MARINER A	9288954	40099	Malta	RU NVS NOVOROS	2023-03-05 17:18	US ILM WILMINGTON NC	2023-03-28 22:00	Registered owner ADELE OWNING CO LTD Care of Ancora Investment Trust Inc, 3A, Artemisiou & Themidos Streets, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece. Ship manager/Commercial manager ANCORA INVESTMENT TRUST INC 3A, Artemisiou & Themidos Streets, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece.


France [FR]
02	MRC BELIZ	9335044	46012	Malta	RU NVS NOVOROS	2023-03-17 13:24	FR URO ROUEN	2023-04-02 02:19	Ship manager/Commercial manager MRC DENIZCILIK TURIZM Kuzguncuk Carsi Caddesi 39, Kuzguncuk Mah, Uskudar, 34674 Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner MRC BELIZ SHIPPING CORP LTD Care of MRC Denizcilik Turizm ve Petrol Urunleri Ticaret Ltd Sti, Kuzguncuk Carsi Caddesi 39, Kuzguncuk Mah, Uskudar, 34674 Istanbul, Turkey.


Malta [MT]
03	CHEM NICHOLAS	9374416	38396	Liberia	RU TAM TAMAN	2023-03-10 05:00	MT MLA OPL VALLETTA	2023-03-19 19:07	Ship manager/Commercial manager HELLENIC TANKERS CO LTD 3, Mouson Street, Kifisia, 145 63 Athens, Greece. Registered owner FENIX ENTERPRISES SA Care of Hellenic Tankers Co Ltd, 3, Mouson Street, Kifisia, 145 63 Athens, Greece.
Greece [GR]
04	PRINCE I	9294123	39999	Panama	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	2023-03-03 23:30	GR PIRAEUS ANCH	2023-03-07 22:00	Ship manager/Commercial manager GANDIA SHIPPING INC Panama City, Panama. Registered owner GANDIA SHIPPING INC Panama City, Panama.
05	TAVRICHESKY BRIDGE	9292060	46697	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-02-25 19:26	GR KLX KALAMATA OPL	ETA: 2023-03-05 22:00 Історія портів та треки видалені / Port history and tracks have been removed	Ship manager/Commercial manager SUN SHIP MANAGEMENT Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner EDGERTON SHIPPING LTD Care of SUN Ship Management (D) Ltd, Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
06	TATIANA	9340128	38396	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-06 08:28	GR LAKONIKOS OPL	2023-03-11 06:19	Ship manager/Commercial manager IMS SA 6-8, Aitolikou & Kastoros Streets, 185 45 Piraeus, Greece. Registered owner PATARA CORP Care of IMS SA, 6-8, Aitolikou & Kastoros Streets, 185 45 Piraeus, Greece
07	FOTUO	9293959	40158	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-09 12:15	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-17 14:22	Ship manager/Commercial manager LEDRI SHIPPING CO LTD Daire 345, Kat 35, A1 Block, Mazaya Plaza Ritim, Zuhal Caddesi 46, Cevizli Mah, Maltepe, 34846 Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner LEDRI SHIPPING CO LTD Daire 345, Kat 35, A1 Block, Mazaya Plaza Ritim, Zuhal Caddesi 46, Cevizli Mah, Maltepe, 34846 Istanbul, Turkey
08	HARBIYE	9396787	50554	Marshall Is	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-12 08:29	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-18 09:28	Ship manager/Commercial manager BESIKTAS LIKID TASIMACILIK Kat 15, Blok A, Piyale Pasa Bulvari Memorial Centre, Okmeydani, Sisli, 34385 Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner HARBIYE SHIPPING LTD Care of Besiktas Likid Tasimacilik Denizcilik Ticaret AS, Kat 15, Blok A, Piyale Pasa Bulvari Memorial Centre, Okmeydani, Sisli, 34385 Istanbul, Turkey.
09	MINERVA ANTONIA	9380398	46923	Greece	RU NVS NOVOROS	2023-03-12 16:26	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-16 01:06	Ship manager/Commercial manager MINERVA MARINE INC 141-143, Vouliagmenis Avenue & 1 Aiolou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. Registered owner THENMIN SERVICES SA Care of Minerva Marine Inc, 141-143, Vouliagmenis Avenue & 1 Aiolou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece
10	ECO FLEET	9717503	39208	Marshall Islands	RU NVS NOVOROS	2023-03-14 12:55	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-20 06:00	Ship manager/Commercial manager CENTRAL MARE INC 1, Vasilissis Sofias & Megalou Alexandrou Streets, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece. since 13/03/2022 Registered owner COMPASS SHIPPING 49 CORP LTD Care of Central Mare Inc, 1, Vasilissis Sofias & Megalou Alexandrou Streets, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece.
11	PERICLES	9272931	46992	St. Kitts and Nevis	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-10 06:09	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-22 22:31	Ship manager/Commercial manager ARK SEAKONNECT SHIPMANAGMENT Office 19, Ideal Trade Centre, 64, Sector 11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400614, India. Registered owner ATHENIENSIS INC Care of ARK SeaKonnect Shipmanagment LLP, Office 19, Ideal Trade Centre, 64, Sector 11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400614, India.
12	BEKS BLUE	9263186	39817	Marshall Is	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-17 11:30	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-24 13:29	Ship manager/Commercial manager BLUE MARITIME & TRADING INC Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake, Majuro MH 96960, Marshall Islands. Registered owner BLUE MARITIME & TRADING INC Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake, Majuro MH 96960, Marshall Islands.
13	SEA ALTUS	9724570	39999	Marshall Is	RU TAM TAMAN	2023-03-17 18:01	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-24 18:00	Ship manager/Commercial manager PANTHEON TANKERS MANAGEMENT 354, Andrea Syngrou Avenue, Kallithea, 176 74 Athens, Greece Registered owner BRUCE MARINE CO Care of Pantheon Tankers Management Ltd, 354, Andrea Syngrou Avenue, Kallithea, 176 74 Athens, Greece.
14	NOSTOS	9258014	47147	Liberia	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	2023-03-16 06:00	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-25 02:05	Ship manager/Commercial manager EUROTANKERS INC 5th Floor, 99, Akti Miaouli, 185 38 Piraeus, Greece. Registered owner SHANNON TRADING SA Care of Eurotankers Inc, 5th Floor, 99, Akti Miaouli, 185 38 Piraeus, Greece
15	IRINI	9934890	49990	Greece	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-22 03:49	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-30 12:00	Ship manager/Commercial manager EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN MTME-LIE 69, Grigoriou Lampraki Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece. Registered owner AURA CHARTERING CO Care of Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd (EASTMED), 69, Grigoriou Lampraki Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece.
16	AGIOS NIKOLAOS	9820283	49988	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	2023-03-22 08:38	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-30 17:47	Ship manager/Commercial manager CENTROFIN MANAGEMENT INC 10, Diadochou Pavlou Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece. Registered owner REXEL CORP Care of Centrofin Management Inc, 10, Diadochou Pavlou Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece.
17	VALCADORE	9384112	37481	Malta	RU TUA TUAPSE	2023-03-25 12:48	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	2023-03-31 20:41	Registered owner VASSHOLMEN SHIPPING LTD Care of Navigazione Montanari SpA, Via Ceccarini 36, 61032 Fano PU, Italy. during 02/2019 Ship manager/Commercial manager NAVIGAZIONE MONTANARI SPA Via Ceccarini 36, 61032 Fano PU, Italy.

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This article has been prepared with the support of the European Union in Ukraine. The content of the article is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the EU

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The violations of the EU and G7 embargo on seaborne exports of Russian petroleum products from the Black Sea in February-March 2023

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