Russian Tankers Going Dark Raises Flags on Sanctions Evasion
Bloomberg: Russian Tankers Going Dark Raises Flags on Sanctions Evasion
(Bloomberg) -- Russian tankers carrying oil chemicals and oil products are increasingly concealing their movements, a phenomenon that some maritime experts warn could signal attempts to evade unprecedented sanctions prompted by the invasion of Ukraine.
In the week ended March 25, there were at least 33 occurrences of so-called “dark activity” -- operating while onboard systems to transmit their locations are turned off -- by Russian tankers, said Windward Ltd., an Israeli consultancy that specializes in maritime risk using artificial intelligence and satellite imagery.
That’s more than double the weekly average of 14 in the past year.
The dark operations occurred mainly in or around Russia’s exclusive economic zone, according to Windward, which conducted the research at Bloomberg’s request.
The ships engaging in dark activity include vessels connected to big corporations and multinational shipping firms, as well as small businesses, according to Windward.
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Update: Oil Tanker Traders Go Underground To Buy Cheap Russian Crude (gCaptain/Bloomberg)
WNU Editor: The Kremlin's focus is not on the seizure of an oligarch's super-yacht .... Seizing Russian yachts is US goal. But it's not easy (The Hill). The Kremlin is focused on commercial shipping and trade .... France seizes suspected Russian-owned ship in Channel (The Guardian/Reuters).
It should be noted that seizing Russian commercial vessels will be seen as a hostile act by the Kremlin. They will respond.
WNU Editor: The Kremlin's focus is not on the seizure of an oligarch's super-yacht .... The Kremlin is focused on commercial shipping and trade.
ReplyDelete1) It may not be the right answer, but my answer is the yachts are seized because they are shiny. It helps put the spin on the news cycle.
2) Why would American politicians and others go after yachts and not commercial shipping first? Because they do not have a thorough understanding of economics. They are crony capitalists.
Seriously, I would trust a bunch of Air Force ROTC undergrads to run a war or a country more than the lot in Washington.
Seizing Russian yachts is US goal. But it's not easy (The Hill). France seizes suspected Russian-owned ship in Channel (The Guardian/Reuters).
Little by little. Sleep walking to war again. Why cry? Is it inevitable? Consider an analogy between mankind on the earth and the brain. Does the brain have only one kernel? How does it become the kernel? Looks like there can only be one.
I like the idea of oligarchy merging better than war. I mean fuck marrying the enemy is what my family does.
It should be noted that seizing Russian commercial vessels will be seen as a hostile act by the Kremlin. They will respond.
I just assume we are going to war now. I had thought back last August through October sometime that Taiwan or Ukraine would pop. The edge was on China first, I think, but I though both would pop within two weeks of each other.
I will spend and vacation accordingly. My home is gong to be spotless. At least I can enjoy living there before it gets hit by hurricane force winds it is part of a fallout zone.