The Australian Government on Wednesday (18 June) said it has imposed targeted sanctions on 60 vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

This is the first time Australia has imposed sanctions against the shadow fleet.

“Russia uses these vessels to circumvent international sanctions and sustain its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine,” said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a statement. 

“Operating under deceptive practices, including flag-hopping, disabling tracking systems, and operating with inadequate insurance, the shadow fleet enables the illicit trade of Russian oil and other sanctioned goods.”

Wong said these sanctions reinforced Australia’s consistent commitment to ensuring Russia, and those enabling its illegal invasion of Ukraine, face consequences.

Alongside those of key international partners, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, these sanctions help starve the Russian war economy of oil revenue.

Australia has imposed over 1,400 sanctions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

“We will continue to take coordinated and decisive action to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and disrupt Russia’s ability to fund its aggression,” she said. 

“Australia once again calls on Russia to immediately end this war and withdraw from Ukrainian territory. We remain steadfast in our support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”

Photo credit: Dan Freeman on Unsplash
Published: 24 June, 2025

The UK government on Tuesday (17 June) has imposed sanctions on 20 oil tankers and Rosneft’s bunker fuel trading subsidiary Rosneft Marine (UK) Limited, in its latest action targeting Russia’s financial, military and energy sectors.

The new sanctions crack down further on Russia’s shadow fleet, targeting 20 of oil tankers. The UK is also tightening the net around those who enable Putin’s illicit oil trade, sanctioning Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels. 
The action also targets Russia’s military capabilities, hitting the military agency leading the development of Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations (GUGI), protecting the UK from attacks on subsea infrastructure, restricting Putin’s war machine and increasing our security at home. 

“These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.

“The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”

According to Rosneft’s website, Rosneft Marine UK, a Rosneft trading division, was established in 2010 to carry out bunker fuel trading for international cargo shipping.

In 2010, an office was opened in London, then in Beijing in 2012.

Photo credit: balesstudio on Unsplash
Published: 19 June, 2025

The Government of Panama on Monday (2 June) rejected accusations made by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) in recent publications circulated through media outlets and e-mails worldwide.

Panama Maritime Authority (PMA), called the claims made by Mark D. Wallace, CEO of UANI, as “misleading”. 

On 30 May, UANI accused Panama of its “longstanding role” in facilitating Iran’s illicit oil trade and urged Panama to de-flag all Iranian oil-smuggling vessels. According to UANI’s analysis, nearly one in five vessels suspected of transporting Iranian oil—17% or 94/542 of the total tracked—sails under Panama’s flag.

AMP, the entity in charge of the Panamanian Ship Registry and the governing body of the Panamanian maritime sector, reported it has removed more than 650 vessels from its registry since 2019, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and as part of its efforts to combat the financing of terrorism and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

“The Government of Panama maintains close collaboration with the Government of the United States of America, through its Embassy in Panama and through direct communications with the Department of State, regarding the Ship Registry and other security matters of mutual interest,” it said in a statement. 

Furthermore, as part of its international commitments, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) known as the Registry of Information Sharing Compact (RISC) was signed in August 2019 between Liberia, Vanuatu, the Marshall Islands, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Moldova, and Panama.

The agreement stipulates that when a flag registry cancels or initiates a sanction or cancellation process, or refuses to register a vessel due to sanctionable activity, the registry must immediately notify the other members of the vessel’s details, including a description of the sanctionable activity, in order to publicise the identity of vessels, companies, or groups acting against the interests of the international maritime community.

As a result of the signing of said MOU, the AMP issued Resolution No. 106-048-DGMM on 19 August 2019, establishing sanctions against any vessel of the Panama Registry that deliberately deactivates the Long-Range Identification and Tracking System (LRIT) and/or the Automatic Identification System (AIS) equipment.

Additionally, Panama has recently implemented strict new requirements for ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfer operations involving vessels under its flag, marking an important step in its efforts to combat sanctions evasion and illicit maritime activities. These new requirements are aligned with the standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the MARPOL Convention, reflecting Panama’s commitment to maritime security and operational transparency.

This measure follows the promulgation, in October 2024, of Executive Decree No. 512, which empowers the AMP to unilaterally deregister vessels whose owners appear on international sanctions lists. Since its promulgation to date, Panama has deregistered 214 vessels, representing more than 12 million Gross Register Tonnage (GRT).

“It is important to note that the AMP conducts investigations into compliance with international conventions ratified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), due diligence, and recommendations from the United Nations Security Council Panel of Experts. Vessels that fail to comply with national regulations are subject to administrative and economic sanctions, and even cancellation of their registration (abandonment of the flag),” AMP added. 

Panama said it has complied and will continue to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its efforts to combat the financing of terrorism and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. 

Related: Panama tightens STS oil transfer rules to ‘shut the door’ on shadow fleet

Photo credit: Panama Maritime Authority
Published: 4 June, 2025