Andromeda

The 'Amazon', one of the ships that make up Russia's so-called ghost fleet, and sanctioned by the United States, Switzerland, and Canada., sailed less than seven nautical miles off the coast of Cádiz on the morning of No 12, as Russia continues to circumvent EU and US sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. The transit of ships transporting oil, weapons, and other strategic items for Russia near the waters off Cádiz has been a constant since the start of the war against the Ukraine. The 'Amazon' had sailed from the port of Algiers, destined to the Russian port Primorsk with an ETA as of Nov 21, nine days after passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, a common transit point for many of these vessels sanctioned for trading with or operating under Russian command. . To evade the control of EU and US authorities, the shadow fleet ships change their name and flag every few months. The 'Amazon' is currently flying the Omani flag, but just six months ago it was flying the flag of the Comoros Islands. Its name was 'Andromeda' in August 2024, and it flew the Barbadian flag. The 'Amazon', the name it adopted in September 2025, has been on the European Union's sanctions list since Dec 17, 2024, under the name 'Andromeda'. In the sanctions list, the EU clarifies that its inclusion is in compliance with Article 3 of the restrictive measures adopted by the European Council. This article specifies that the list includes vessels that carry crude oil or petroleum products included in Annex XXV, originating in or exported from Russia, carrying out illegal and high-risk maritime transport practices as established in Resolution A.1192 (33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization. The 'Amazon' is engaged in transporting Russian crude oil despite the embargo imposed by the EU and the US. Behind this vessel is the Russian state shipping company Sovcomflot (SCF), whose initials can still be seen in photos taken of the ship in 2021 but are no longer visible in subsequent photos, one of the world's largest shipping companies in the maritime transport of oil and gas. Its participation is vital to the production and transport of Russian hydrocarbons, and its main charterers are Russian gas and oil companies. The name Sovcomflot does not appear directly behind the 'Amazon,' but a number of associated companies do. SCF participates in almost all of Russia's major energy projects. The way to evade Western sanctions has been by transferring vessels to companies established in foreign jurisdictions, and in many cases, even tax havens that escape the control of European authorities. The 'Amazon' is an example of these practices. It has never flown the Russian flag but is part of the ghost fleet.

The European Union has adopted its newest sanctions package on Dec 16, 2024, at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, adding 52 new vessels, among them the 'Andromeda', to the sanctions list that have been deemed by the EU to be supporting Russia’s war machine. The vessels that have been sanctioned are primarily involved in circumventing the oil price cap mechanism implemented by the West, in arms deliveries, and in the transportation of stolen grain. This latest package has brought the total number of vessels sanctioned by the EU to 79. The majority of the vessels are involved in the transport of Russian oil and in transporting arms for the Russian military. The sanctions package also targets a total of 54 individuals and 30 entities that are deemed to be bolstering Russia’s war effort. Among them, there are also entities and individuals in China and North Korea who have been deemed to be supplying Russia with dual-use materials to support Russia’s military efforts. Two senior North Korean officials and seven Chinese individuals and companies have been targeted in the latest sanctions. The purpose of the sanctions has been defined to increase the operational costs for Russia by banning them from ports in the EU and hindering them from receiving maritime services.