According to data published by TankerTrackers.com, a maritime intelligence company, the so-called dark fleet – consisting of oil tankers engaged in activities that breach international maritime law – now numbers 1,483 active vessels. Windward, a leading maritime AI company, estimates the fleet at approximately 1,100 ships.
These vessels attempt to evade authorities by falsifying cargo origin documents, ship papers and names, or by flying false flags. The practice was pioneered by Iran and Venezuela, and since February 2022 has been adopted on a large scale by Russia to circumvent international sanctions and continue oil exports.
The top flag states under which these vessels operate are: Russia – 219, Panama – 165, Cameroon – 161, Sierra Leone – 102, Iran – 88, Comoros – 62, Curacao – 52, Guyana – 42, Hong Kong – 39, Palau – 39, Oman – 37, Barbados – 34, Madagascar – 26, Guinea – 24, Aruba – 23, Liberia – 23, Marshall Islands – 23, Mozambique – 21, Gambia – 21 and Botswana – 18.
A number of these ships maintain a constant presence in the Black Sea, where they transport Russian crude oil.
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