Analysis by Lloyd’s List reveals a sharp increase in illicit “shadow fleet” vessels switching to the Russian registry in an attempt to shield themselves from US seizure. Last year, 40 suspicious ships joined the Russian registry—with 17 doing so in the last month alone—following Donald Trump’s announcement of a “blockade” on Venezuelan oil.
Shipowners are reflagging vessels to Russia hoping for Kremlin protection against American intervention. However, this tactic failed for the tanker Marinera, which was seized by US special forces despite painting a crude Russian flag on its hull and reportedly having a Russian submarine escort.
The US has intensified enforcement, recently seizing the Marinera, the M/T Sophia, and The Skipper (a vessel linked to Iran and Hezbollah) for illicit activities. The “shadow fleet” now includes over 1,423 ships. It transports approximately 65% of Russia’s seaborne oil, generating between $87 billion and $100 billion in annual revenue. The UK government defended its assistance in the Marinera seizure, with Secretary of State Douglas Alexander stating that disrupting these operations is essential to stop the funding of Russia’s war in Ukraine and global terrorism.
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