The Culprits Behind the Blockade of 'Russian Oil' Distribution... A 'Shadow Fleet' of 600 Vessels

Active Distribution Despite Economic Sanctions
Operating a Fleet of 600 Vessels for Oil Exports
CNN "Numbers Are Continually Increasing"

The revelation of a 'shadow fleet' secretly transporting Russian oil products under Western high-intensity economic sanctions has sparked controversy. The shadow fleet is reported to already number around 600 vessels, with the number continuing to grow.

On the 1st (local time), the U.S. broadcaster CNN cited statements from oil transportation industry insiders, reporting that "the size of the shadow fleet used by Russia for oil exports is about 600 vessels."

The outlet pointed out that "this fleet size accounts for only 10% of the world's large oil tankers," but noted that "the number is continuously increasing."

Earlier, the G7 introduced a price cap on Russian oil products starting in early December last year. This limits Russian crude oil to $60 per barrel (approximately 79,000 KRW), and prohibits maritime insurance coverage for tankers carrying crude oil purchased above that price.

Oil tanker in front of a Russian port / Photo by Yonhap News

It was during this process that the shadow fleet emerged. The shadow fleet refers to a fleet that operates by loading products onto low-priced secondhand tankers instead of using regular maritime insurance. Various methods are used to conceal the true owners, such as painting over the original ship names and complicating the ownership structure of shipping companies.

There are also 'dark ships' that operate in complete silence. A dark ship is an unidentified vessel that moves with its shipborne AIS transponder turned off. The transponder is a type of electromagnetic wave response device that allows all international ships to be identified from the ground. A ship moving with its transponder off is highly likely to be a cargo ship carrying illegal smuggled goods or sanctioned items.

The shadow fleet is currently rampant across global trade routes. According to a survey by the nonprofit organization Global Witness, about 25% of tanker transactions from late February last year to January this year involved buyers who were unknown. This is double the rate compared to the previous year.

Regarding this, CNN analyzed, "Russia is avoiding cooperation with Western shippers, and customers from China and India have emerged as new buyers of Russian crude oil and oil products," adding, "As a result, the importance of the shadow fleet has become more prominent."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.