EU targets 52 more vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet

The European Council has adopted the 15th sanctions package against Russia, focusing on a further crackdown on Russia’s ‘shadow’ fleet and combating sanctions’ circumvention.

As Russia looks for ways to evade the oil price cap, the EU has decided to strengthen measures to help prevent such evasion. The new package targets 52 new vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet, increasing the total number of such listings to 79. These vessels (non-EU) are subject to a port access ban and a ban on the provision of services.

As informed, these ships have been found to be engaged in high-risk shipping practices when transporting Russian oil or petroleum products, in arms deliveries, grain theft, or supporting the Russian energy sector. This targeted approach by the EU is said to increase the cost for Russia to use such vessels as they are no longer able to do business as usual in the EU or with EU operators.

It also reduces the number of vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet that can carry Russian crude oil, according to the council.

Importantly, the listings also tackle the ‘serious’ maritime safety and environmental risks posed by the often old and underinsured vessels of the shadow fleet.

The EU said it will continue to closely monitor the trade of Russian oil shifts and different practices designed to circumvent the oil price cap, both in terms of compliance by G7 operators and operations of the dark fleet.

The package, unveiled in mid-December 2024, also includes substantial individual and entity listings related to the Russian military-industrial complex and increases the legal protection of EU Central Securities Depositories (EU CSDs). The listings also target a number of senior managers in companies active in the Russian energy sector (including shipping companies), providing ‘important’ revenues to the Russian government.

With this package, the EU has, for the first time, imposed ‘fully-fledged’ sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, and prohibition to make economic resources available) on various Chinese actors.

To remind, European parliamentarians called on the EU last month to impose “more targeted” sanctions against Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’. The council now responded with a new set of measures.

Coinciding with the new round of sanctions, a major maritime incident occurred in the Kerch Strait on December 15 when the two tankers linked to the Russian shadow fleet encountered a storm and sustained damages. As a result, one of the vessels split into two and sank while the other one ran aground.

The ships were carrying almost 9,000 tons of fuel oil which partially leaked from the tankers, resulting in an oil spill in the area.

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