Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Marabella-Sun

The Ecologistas en Acción de Andalucía requested that Salvamento Marítimo increased its vigilance and caution due to the presence of the Russian shadow fleet tanker 'Chariot Tide' off the coast of Almería, used to transport Russian crude oil and refined products while circumventing international sanctions. The 'Clara Campoamor' continued monitoring the tanker, which was sailing at a speed of barely one knot and may have a navigation system malfunctions. The tanker had previously been adrift and NUC in the middle of a major shipping lane on the southern channel of the Strait of Gibraltar's Southern Sea Route (TSS). The tanker was listed as being bound for Tangier-Med carrying more than 425,000 barrels of refined products of Russian origin, loaded at the port of Ust-Luga, Russia. However, given its trajectory and current course, it was not ruled out that these fuels could end up entering the market through a port in Algeria or via supply barges, under falsified export documentation. The tanker had loaded approximately 300,000 barrels of diesel fuel at the Russian terminal of Primorsk and had made its way through the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic before starting to experience problems near Gibraltar on Jan 22. The ship had periodically switched back and forth between being underway at slow speeds and drifting, repeating the NUC message. Spanish warships appeared to be operating close to the tanker. The 'Chariot Tide', however, appeared to be attempting to stay outside Spanish territorial waters to escape a seizure. The tanker has been operating under EU and UK sanctions since 2024 and in 2025 claimed to be registered in Mozambique, Gambia, and Comoros, all reported to be false, as well as Tanzania. Its last listed inspections were in 2024, and in Feb 2024, inspectors listed 14 deficiencies, including structural condition and operating issues. The ownership was listed as a shell corporation incorporated in the Marshall Islands. The lack of a flag, insurance, and clear ownership was complicating the situation for the vessel to receive assistance and repairs, and it was thought that the crew was working to repair a problem with the engine or the steering.

The 'Progress' (IMO: 9306627), one of the two tankers linked to the Russian ghost fleet, which had issued a distress signal last week while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, appeared to have resumed its course, while the second one, the 'Chariot Bay', has not moved for three days. The 'Progress', carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil, had changed its status to NUC on Jan 21, shortly after passing Algiers. It moved away from the Algerian coast and then stopped sharing its geolocation. In recent days, it had been drifting at sea, possibly undergoing repairs. On Jan 26, the tanker was located north of Tunisia, re-shared its position and appeared to have resumed its course towards Port Said, sailing under power at a normal speed of 12 knots. The second tanker, the 'Chariot Tide', reported itself NUC on Jan 22, shortly after passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. The vessel, which was carrying approximately 300,000 barrels of crude oil, was taken in tow by the tug 'VB Spartel' on the afternoon of Jan 23, after being stuck for about 27 hours. On Jan 26, the 'Chariot Tide' was still in the same area between Spain and Morocco. The tug had moved it eastwards, thus shifting the problem into international waters and the Spanish SAR zone. The ship was adrift at a speed of 1.7 knots in pos. 36° 08' N 002° 59' W. On Jan 27, the tanker was being escorted to Tanger Med by the SAR vessel 'Clara Campoamor' (IMO: 9338022). The 'Chariot Tide', which was sailing under a Mozambique flag and until November was sailing as 'Marabella Sun', has been on an EU sanctions list since Nov 2024 for helping Russia export oil. while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices. It has also been sanctioned by the UK, according to the British government. Between 1,200 and 1,600 tankers were currently operating as a so-called shadow fleet, helping Russia and other countries such as Venezuela and Iran evade Western sanctions and sell their oil to countries such as China and India. The tankers were often old, their ownership was opaque, and they were sailing without top-tier insurance cover to meet international standards for oil majors and many ports.

The Moroccan tug 'VB Spartel' (IMO: 9344617) was deployed from tanger-Med to stabilise the 'Progress'. Experts were closely monitoring the situation due to its vulnerable position in the Strait of Gibraltar. The ship was considered to be a so-called ghost tanker, as it was on sanctions lists of both the European Union and the United Kingdom. With a reported damage rate of 42 % and a cargo of 425,000 barrels of Russian refined products, the vessel's technical condition posed a significant risk to the marine environment. The most recent problems arose when the tanker drifted in the southern channel of the traffic separation scheme. The vessel was officially classified as not under command, traveling at only 0.6 knots. Although the Spanish authorities positioned the pollution control ship 'Luz de Mar' (IMO: 9320104), which had been deployed by Salvamento Marítimo from Algeciras to the scene, nearby, it remained at a distance. A direct Spanish intervention would be legally complex and could result in a seizure for violating international sanctions.

Several Russian vessels on the EU sanctions list have recently changed their names and were reflagged to maintain a low profile. A number of these shadow fleet vessels are currently sailing in European waters. The European Union (EU) maintains a sanctions list of 557 vessels affiliated with Russia or Belarus and therefore not welcome. These vessels are prohibited from entering EU ports. The Russians are attempting to evade the sanctions by reflagging and renaming vessels that are added to the sanctions list. For example, the 'Mianzimu' (IMO: 9299666), which was added to the sanctions list in 2024, was suddenly reflagged to the Gambian flag and renamed 'Dashan'. That vessel is currently sailing from Turkey to Russia. The 'Alissa' (IMO: 9273052) was renamed 'Soufia 1' and sails under the Swaziland flag. The vessel is currently in Singaporean waters. The 'Delvina' (IMO: 9331153) was formerly known as 'Galian 2' and sails under the Comoros flag. A number of vessels that have only been on the sanctions list since 2024 have been found to be operating in European waters, often under a new name and flag state. The 'Andromeda' was renamed 'Amazon' under the Omani flag. The ship is currently sailing in the North Sea en route from Russia to Egypt. The 'Marabella Sun' (IMO: 9323376), currently sailing in the North Sea en route from the port of Yalova to the Russian port of Primorsk, was re-flagged to Gambia, a flag state often used by Russia as a cover, and renamed 'Chariot Ride'. The 'Phoenix' (IMO: 9333424), now called the 'Photon' and currently sailing under the Gambian flag, was actually en route from Turkey to Tangier. The 'Pioneer' (IMO: 9255282),formerly the 'Futura' and briefly the 'Sehnaz Ka', is currently sailing off the coast of Norway, en route from a Russian port in the Gulf of Finland to the port of Sabetta in northern Russia and is circumnavigating Norway with an ETA as of Dec 11.

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 'Marabella Sun', 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.

A crew member of Latvian nationality died aboard the "Piltene" on 14 October, 2016. The details, however, were disclosed only on Apr 23, 2017, by the Federal Police of Pernambuco. The 31-year-old Kiselovs Vladislavs was responsible for cleaning the engine room and was found on the main deck of the ship, extremely injured, with his right arm, ribs and jaw broken. He also had hives around his eyes. He was found after the ship left Itaqui, in Maranhão, bound for the port of Suape, at the Cape of St. Augustine. He underwent first-aid procedures but succumbed to his injuries. The body was placed in the cold room of the ship and arrived at the Medical Legal Institute (IML), in Recife, on Oct 17. Federal and military police of the Brazilian Navy conducted the first investigations. The death could have been caused by the fall from a significant height of the deck of the vessel. After the removal of the body, the ship was released by the Federal Police. The body of Kiselovs will be embalmed, after passing exams in the IML and then be sent to Russia, where his burial will be arranged. The process for releasing the body took place on Apr 24.