In an effort to bypass international sanctions, Moscow is actively using its ‘shadow fleet’ to export oil. To cover its tracks, Russia creates various schemes. As revealed by an investigation from the European publication TradeWins, one of the companies involved in circumventing the price cap on Russian oil is Kurow Shipping. This company is linked to K&O Ship Management.
According to an investigation published on the USM website, the addresses of two companies match: their offices are located on the same floor of the World Trade Center in Dubai (UAE). K&O Ship Management, a company directly linked to Russia’s “Sovcomflot”, has already been sanctioned in Ukraine and the UK for transporting Russian oil.
Evidence that Kurow Shipping is involved in the operations of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ comes from the history of two of its vessels — SAMSUN and EMINENT. This includes a typical set of schemes: re-registering ships with name changes, altering flags and ports of registry, fictitious changes of ownership, and the use of insurance companies specifically created to work with the ‘shadow fleet’.
It is not surprising that, in its report, the Kyiv School of Economics identified these tankers as part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.
The track record of the EMINENT is not much different from that of the SAMSUN; they are like twin brothers.
SAMSUN and EMINENT are both old vessels that have been in operation for over 15 years, according to data from the MarineTraffic website.
Before being named SAMSUN on March 10, 2023, the vessel had previously been known as PARAMOUNT (since March 10, 2023) and STEALTH CHIOS (since April 23, 2021). It has also frequently changed flags. Since March 10, 2023, SAMSUN has sailed under the Panama flag. Prior to that, it flew the flags of the Marshall Islands (since April 23, 2021), Malta (since February 24, 2021), and Greece (since October 11, 2013).
In turn, EMINENT recently received its current name on January 10, 2025. Over its long life, it has sailed under the names ELEGANCE (since June 1, 2023), STAR PROSPERITY (since September 6, 2021), and CHAMPION PROSPERITY (since July 2009). Currently, EMINENT sails under the Panama flag (since June 1, 2023). Before that, it flew the flag of the Marshall Islands (since September 6, 2021), and previously under the Panama flag (from July 2009 to September 2021).
Both vessels are insured by the Russian insurance company “Ingosstrakh”, which is sanctioned by the United Kingdom.
According to MarineTraffic data, both SAMSUN and EMINENT have been observed turning off or manipulating the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Last year, SAMSUN did this five times, while EMINENT did it thirteen times. However, these tactics did not prevent their routes from being tracked.
As stated on the BlackSeaNews website, in April 2024, SAMSUN was spotted among the tankers transporting oil and oil products from Russian ports in the Black and Azov Seas. Specifically, it was seen departing the “Kavkaz” port on April 2, 2024. Additionally, SAMSUN was identified as one of the tankers exporting Russian oil and oil products from the Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga between 2023 and 2025.
In turn, according to data from BlackSeaNews and MarineTraffic, EMINENT has been transporting oil from Russian ports in the Baltic Sea (Primorsk and Ust-Luga), as well as from the Black and Azov Seas (Novorossiysk).
By transporting oil from Russian ports, the ships deliver it to Turkey, India, and Egypt. Unsurprisingly, since January 10, 2025, both tankers have been sanctioned by the United States as vessels involved in transporting crude oil and oil products from Russian ports. Overall, the US has imposed sanctions on more than 180 vessels linked to the trade and production of oil and gas in Russia.
These data clearly show that Moscow is not hesitating to use all available schemes to circumvent international sanctions. With the help of companies like Kurow Shipping, Russia continues to supply global markets with its oil despite international pressure. However, no matter how carefully these operations are concealed, the ships of the ‘shadow fleet’ can still be identified, and sanctions pressure on Russia must continue.
МК