Discover the Tavian: Ratings & Maritime News

In the early hours of January 10, 2023, the tanker 'Tavian' entered the North Sea off Germany's coast, stirring considerable concern among maritime authorities. The German Federal Police were quick to act, deploying a helicopter to intercept the suspicious vessel while also communicating with the captain to request the necessary documentation. At that moment, the 'Tavian' was navigating west of Schleswig-Holstein and headed towards the Baltic Sea, likely targeting one of the Russian oil ports located near St. Petersburg. As the tanker neared German waters again, this time off Flensburg, the Federal Police firmly prohibited it from entering due to serious concerns regarding its legitimacy. A thorough examination of its documents revealed troubling findings: the vessel was indeed sailing under a false flag, and its identification number had been falsified. Notably, 'Tavian' has been under U.S. sanctions since 2021. That evening, the 'Tavian' changed course off Langeland Island and exited the Baltic Sea after being approached by the patrol vessel 'Bayreuth'. It is believed that the captain, fearing potential seizure of the ship, made the decision to turn back. Following the incident, German authorities promptly updated the Interior Ministry regarding the situation. As of January 15, 2023, the tanker had reached the waters of the Norwegian Sea but notably switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder. By January 16, the vessel was reported to be in the Norwegian section of the Barents Sea, progressing towards Murmansk. Investigations revealed that the ship is, in fact, the 28-year-old 'Arcusat', which has undergone 11 name changes since 2013. The actual IMO number for this vessel is 9147447, and it currently sails under the flag of Cameroon.

On January 8, 2026, the notorious Russian shadow tanker, 'Tavian,' was detected navigating through the English Channel while posing under a false name, signaling yet another maneuver to evade international sanctions. Initially sanctioned in August 2024 as 'Tia,' the vessel, after rebranding to 'Tavian,' is now sailing under the alias 'Arcusat' and has been reflagged to Cameroon. The tanker departed from the STAR Rafineri in Izmir on December 30, 2025, and is thought to be on a course toward Russia, with the Gulf of Finland listed as its destination and an estimated time of arrival (ETA) around January 13, 2026. In a move to disguise its identity, the tanker was broadcasting the IMO number of a vessel that had been scrapped or deregistered. This effort to masquerade as an unsanctioned ship is part of a broader strategy to avoid detection by authorities. UK officials have been closely monitoring the 'Tavian,' as curtailing the operations of the Russian shadow fleet remains a priority for the British government. Notably, the 'Tavian' passed the island of Fehmarn on December 10, 2025, under the escort of two Russian destroyers, carrying a substantial cargo of 100,000 tons of crude oil sourced from the Russian port of Primorsk. Originally built in 1998 and known as 'Nordmark' (IMO: 9147447), the vessel saw a significant transformation over the years. Following the sanctions imposed in August 2024, the ship, then operating as 'Tia,' last used its original IMO number during an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmission in October 2024. After going missing in the Persian Gulf, it resurfaced in March 2025 under its current name, 'Tavian,' now bearing the new IMO number 1095337, which links it to a recent build from Linhai Huajie Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Interestingly, 'Tavian' is reported to be the 13th name adopted by the originally known 'Nordmark.'