Shadow Tanker Fleet Grows Despite Global Sanctions

By
Mfame Editor
-
31

  • 18% of Global Tankers Now Operate in Shadow Trade.
  • BRS Reports 30 Shadow Ships Added Monthly.
  • Sanctioned and Grey Fleet Tankers Dominate Oil Transit.

Despite the tightening grip of sanctions and regulatory measures from the US, UK, and EU, the global shadow tanker fleet is still on the rise, and it’s growing fast. This surge is sparking worries about maritime safety and the gaps in enforcement, reports Safety4Sea.

Rapid Growth: 30 Ships Added Monthly

BRS Shipbrokers reports that the shadow fleet has been adding nearly 30 ships each month over the last six months. Right now, around 18% of the global tanker fleet is involved in shadow operations, which translates to about 300 vessels.

Transit Data Reveals Large Role of Shadow Fleet

In the first half of this year, mainstream vessels accounted for 48% of tanker transits, while 40% were linked to sanctioned grey fleet tankers, and 12% involved non-sanctioned grey fleet vessels, according to BRS. This indicates that shadow and mainstream tankers are operating in almost equal numbers.

Characteristics of Shadow Fleet Vessels

Typically, shadow fleet tankers are older than 15 years, often in less-than-ideal condition, and frequently lack proper insurance. They usually sail under flags of convenience to hide their ownership and engage in risky practices like:

  1. Going dark by turning off automatic identification systems (AIS)
  2. Conducting ship-to-ship transfers in international waters, often under unsafe conditions

Limited Impact of Regulatory Crackdown

Even though recent sanctions have blacklisted hundreds of vessels, the enforcement of these measures is still quite limited. Some registries, particularly Panama, have taken steps by de-listing shadow vessels and refusing to register oil tankers and bulk carriers older than 15 years. However, many shadow operators have simply shifted to more lenient registries to keep their operations going.

Demand for Shadow Tonnage Persists

BRS highlights that buyers of Russian and Iranian oil tend to steer clear of sanctioned tankers but still rely on shadow vessels, which keeps the demand for this fleet alive. The murky nature of the Russian oil trade makes it even harder to track where shadow tankers are loading and unloading.

Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?

It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!

Source: Safety4Sea