Conico-Atlas

The 'Conico Atlas', part of Russia’s shadow fleet, was sold for scrap at the beginning of 2025. It was arrested in India after a failed transaction and claims by the buyer that the ship was sanctioned and misrepresented when it was being sold. The tanker was prohibited from entering Vadinar, and was then sold for demolition. It arrived at the Alang shipbreaking yard on June 16. A petition filed by Global Maritime has stopped its scrapping as the company wants to void the contract and get its advance payments. It was alleged that the tanker’s registered owner, the Tachio Trading, did not reveal that the ship had been sanctioned when they signed the deal. A 10% deposit was transferred, and then the purchaser signed a deal with the recycler Shri Gautam Ship Breaking for demolishing the ship. The customs duties, port charges, and letter of credit were also paid before the beaching process. When the Global Maritime tried to make the final payment through the Mashreq Bank, the transaction was blocked, and the companies were notified that the ship was under sanctions, flagged by authorities in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Switzerland and New Zealand. According to court filings, the ship’s owner refused to acknowledge the sanctions and attempted to pressure the buyer into completing the transaction. The Global Maritime was now seeking to get all agreements declared null and void and wants a money decree with interest. The BRS Shipbrokers said that it was difficult for tankers to leave the grey fleet unless sold to another grey fleet operator. Most cash buyers and recycling yards deal in U.S dollars, excluding them from the U.S banking system if the U.S government acts against such transactions in future. A few recycling yards which face a shortage of tonnage can take on grey tankers, typically at discounted prices. 15 grey tankers were scrapped between 2024 and 2025, with eight of them being linked to direct or indirect sanctions. This allows grey fleet owners to offload problematic or low-value ships. If demolition of other kinds of ships were to increase, then breakers would not accept a lot of grey tonnage due to the risks involved.

arrived Alang anchorage 16.06.25

arrived Bhavnagar Anchorage 13.06.25

The 'Andaman Skies', which is loaded with Russian oil and was barred by Indian authorities, is transferring its cargo to the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker 'Ozanno' (IMO: 9394935). The port authorities had barred the more than 20-year-old tanker from entering the port of Vadinar, as its seaworthiness certificate was not issued by an Indian-approved classification agency. Indian port entry rules require tankers that are more than 20 years old to hold seaworthiness certification by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies, or an entity authorised by India's maritime administration. The vessel, carrying about 100,000 metric tons (800,000 barrels) of Varandey Russian oil sold by Lukoil from the port of Murmansk, was stationary off the port of Mumbai. The 'Ozanno', which had left Sikka on March 29, 2025, is expected to deliver the cargo to Indian Oil Corporation at Vadinar next week and was stationary in pos. 18° 58' N 072° 24' E as of April 4. While the 'Andaman Skies' and 'Ozanno' are both subject to UK and European Union sanctions, they are not under sanctions by the United States or the United Nations. India adheres to United Nations sanctions.