Russia’s Shadow Fleet Grows to One in Six Tankers Worldwide – NYT

Russia has built up a vast “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, which now accounts for nearly one in every six such vessels operating globally.

The Gaze reports this, referring to The New York Times.

Citing data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the report says Moscow’s covert fleet represents about 17% of the world’s active tankers. 

At the start of 2025, analysts estimated Russia controlled around 940 ships – a 45% increase from early 2024. 

Most of these vessels are more than 20 years old, compared with an average age of 13 years for the mainstream commercial tanker fleet.

To curb sanctions evasion, the European Union has blacklisted more than 500 of these tankers, barring them from ports and insurance coverage. 

Yet Moscow continues acquiring vessels to replace those targeted. “In America, there is this awful phrase: ‘You have this dreadful expression in America: Whac-A-Mole,” said David O’Sullivan, the E.U. sanctions envoy. “Circumvention is a bit like that.” 

Ukraine’s military intelligence estimates Russia’s shadow fleet may already number up to 1,000 ships with a combined deadweight capacity exceeding 100 million tons. These aging, low-cost vessels play a crucial role in sustaining Moscow’s oil and fuel exports.

Western allies are stepping up pressure. On September 19, the European Commission introduced its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, including additional measures targeting the shadow fleet. 

A day earlier, Australia cut its price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $47.60 per barrel and sanctioned another 95 tankers linked to Moscow.

As The Gaze previously reported, Ukraine proposed a sweeping new package of sanctions designed to intensify economic pressure on Russia, including measures against more than 400 vessels in Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” and tougher restrictions on oil trade.