It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Friday, June 20, 2025
Oil Slick in Gulf of Oman Near Shadow Tanker as Greenpeace Calls for Action
Oil slick spotted on the satellite images (Planet Labs PBC / Greenpeace)
An analysis of satellite images from the Gulf of Oman shows a potential oil slick forming in the hours after the tanker Front Eagle and the shadow fleet tanker Adalynn collided about 24 nautical miles off the coast of the UAE. Environmental activists from the Middle East and North Africa section of Greenpeace are calling for action to increase the monitoring in the region based on the increased tensions and dangers of an environmental disaster.
“Satellite imagery indicates a large plume of oil stretching up to around 1500 hectares (3,700 acres) from the site of the crash between two vessels, Adalynn and Front Eagle, in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, near the Strait of Hormuz,” reports Greenpeace. It is using satellite images from Planet Labs PBC.
Further, the group cites data from Veson Nautical and Lloyd’s List Intelligence to assert that Adalynn was carrying approximately 70,000 tons of crude oil “despite being officially listed in ballast condition.” This is based on an analysis that reportedly shows the tanker currently with a 9.3-meter (30.5-foot) draft.
“Greenpeace MENA urges all concerned authorities to act swiftly to contain the spill and assess its ecological impact,” the group said in a statement from Farah Al Hattab, Campaigner at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa. “We call on shipping companies, governments, and oil industry actors to commit to full transparency regarding environmental consequences of oil spills and the measures being taken for cleanup. Additionally, we urge governments in the region to increase investment in maritime monitoring, early-warning systems, and contingency plans to effectively respond to future oil pollution incidents. Environmental security must be treated as national and regional security.”
The statement contradicts information from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in Abu Dhabi which said the incident, “resulted in minor surface damage to the outer hulls of both ships, a small oil spill, and a fire.” The ministry is saying that it continues monitoring and assessment of the situation to ensure navigational safety.
The Russian news outless TASS is quoting an official from the consulate general in Dubai saying the crew of Adalynn is now in a hotel in Fujairah. It says the crew includes seven Russian citizens, including the vessel’s captain.
The collision happened at approximately 0130 local time Tuesday, June 17. The Ministry is saying that preliminary information indicates the incident was caused by a “navigational misjudgment” by one of the vessels.
Lars Barstad, CEO of Frontline operator of Front Eagle, made a similar assertion on Wednesday speaking at Marine Money Week in New York describing the encounter with a "dark fleet" tanker. He said the company had “no information” regarding the media reports of GPS jamming. He also asserted that “ships have redundancy for navigation” meaning the officers on the bridge would have better information than the AIS signal data relayed by sites on the Internet.
The maritime AI data analytics firm Windward issued a report saying “Front Eagle experienced sustained electronic navigation interference. Persistent GPS and AIS jamming that preceded the tanker’s collision signals a new and growing maritime security threat in the region.”
Windward acknowledges the statements pointing to no relationship between the collision and the current tension in the region. It however also asserts that GPS jamming in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz has impacted as many as 970 ships a day over the past four days.
The authorities in Abu Dhabi are saying that the fire has been extinguished aboard the Adalynn. Barstad told the audience in New York that despite dealing with a dark fleet tanker the incident had “went well” and they avoided a far worse disaster.
Australia Imposes Its First Shadow Tanker Sanctions Following UK’s Increase
Australia joins the UK, EU, Switzerland, Canada, and the US in sanctioning shadow fleet tankers (file photo)
The efforts continue to target the shadow tanker fleet as a means of choking off Russia’s oil exports. As the G7 leaders and other countries' representatives met in Canada this week, Australia launched its first sanctions on shadow tankers while the UK again expanded its efforts.
Australia joined with the other countries in calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and a withdrawal from Ukrainian territory. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights that Australia has imposed over 1,400 sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and now it is also targeting tankers.
A total of 60 tankers were listed with the ministry highlighting that under Australian law the vessels are not required to be owned, registered, or flagged in Russia. Also, under its sanction regime, a vessel cannot escape the sanctions with a name or flag change. Australia can direct a sanctioned vessel to leave its ports and not to enter a particular port.
“These sanctions reinforce Australia’s consistent commitment to ensuring Russia, and those enabling its illegal invasion of Ukraine, face consequences,” said Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
While speaking at the G& Summit, Sir Kier Starmer, the UK’s Prime Minister, also announced his country’s latest package of sanctions. He said the new round includes 30 entities across Russia’s financial, military, and energy sectors.
“We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws,” said Starmer. “His repeated refusals to engage seriously in peace has redoubled the UK’s resolve to apply a stranglehold on the Russian economy.”
The UK listed 20 additional tankers. This followed what it called its largest package launched in May which targeted up to 100 tankers. The UK had also previously listed 133 tankers, while the EU has now listed over 300 tankers.
Beyond tankers, the UK also listed two firms involved in crewing and managing the shadow fleet. It said that Orion Star Group and Valegro were helping to enable Russia’s oil trade with their efforts supporting the shadow fleet.
During the talks at the G7, the EU and UK were both advocating for a lowering of the price cap imposed on Russian oil exports. The $60 per barrel was challenged in the spring when oil prices receded but now with tensions in the Middle East oil has jumped to over $75 a barrel. Oil markets remain very nervous waiting for a possible U.S. action against Iran.
Denmark is Tracking Stateless Tanker as it Transits Straits
Stateless tanker is making its way west through the Danish EEZ (L-BBE -- CC BY 3.0 Deed)
Danish authorities confirmed that they have identified a tanker that they believed provided false information regarding its flag and possible insurance coverage. The vessel which is laden with Russian oil is being tracked as it makes its outbound transit but so far Denmark has taken no action against the vessel.
The tanker which appears to be identifying with the name Marathon, or previously Udaya, (IMO 9288746) was first identified as a suspect vessel on its inbound transit to the Baltic on June 10. According to the outlet Danwatch, the Danish patrol ship Freja approached the vessel, but there was no apparent attempt to intercept or stop the tanker. The Danish patrol boat was sailing alongside but changed course away from the tanker.
The Danish Maritime Authority told Danwatch, “During radio contact with the Defense Command, the Udaya/Marathon reported that it was flying the Comoros flag. However, during subsequent checks with the Comoros authorities, we received confirmation that the vessel was not registered in the Comoros registry.”
The vessel’s AIS signal shows it departed Primorsk, Russia on June 16 with a declared destination of the Suez Canal. Tracking data from today, June 19, shows it is transiting the Danish straits at a speed of 12 knots. The AIS signal warns its navigational status is constrained by draft. The reports suggest the vessel is carrying 100,000 tons of Russian oil likely bound for India.
Denmark, like the other nations of the region, remains on high alert monitoring shadow fleet tankers. Estonia and Germany have challenged some of the tankers based on suspicious activity or likely false flag operations while Denmark has said it also would consider intervention. Speaking on Danish TV 2 Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen at the end of May called for tightening controls on the shadow tankers. He said legally it was difficult but that “I do not rule out the possibility that we may have to intervene to a greater extent. If you cannot show the correct insurance papers and do not have a flag state, then it is legitimate to intervene,” said Rasmussen. In February 2025, Denmark reported it would be increasing its inspection program targeting tankers.
This tanker is an example of the worst of the shadow fleet. In addition to the accusation that it is sailing without a flag state, the vessel has reported at least three other flags (Djibouti, Gabon, and St. Kitts and Nevis) in the past three years since 2022. The ship was sanctioned by the UK at the end of 2024, and the EU, Canada, and Switzerland in early 2025.
The tanker has been tied to repeated calls in Russia, India, Lebanon, Egypt, and other ports. Equasis lists the flag as unknown and since March 2024 ownership associated with a company in Mauritius. Management is listed in India.
The tanker according to Equasis had not undergone a Port State inspection between July 2022 and April 2025. Its most recent inspection was in Russia, where the authorities cited it for a lack of fire patrols and issues with its inflatable liferafts. The ship was not given a detention.
Danwatch reports this is at least the second vessel Denmark recently identified as being stateless sailing through its waters. The Danish Maritime Authority did not respond to media inquiries regarding the outbound passage of the tanker.
After the tanker Front Eagle collided with the "dark fleet" tanker Adalynn in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week, operator Frontline couldn't even find a way to reach Adalynn's owner to talk about the casualty, boss Lars Barstad said at a panel at Marine Money on Wednesday. The Adalynn's anonymous controlling interests made no response.
“This was the first time Frontline was exposed directly to the dark fleet," Barstad said. “It is an insane situation that we cannot conduct contact."
Adalynn and the tanker Front Eagle were in collision at a position about 22 nm off the coast of Khor Fakkan, UAE early Tuesday morning (local time). The impact sparked fires aboard both vessels; Front Eagle's crew was able to extinguish the blaze aboard their ship, but Adalynn's crewmembers did not have success in containing the fire. They abandoned ship, and all 24 were safely rescued by first responders.
All told, the response to the casualty was successful, Barstad said, and it was not a worst-case scenario. He said that time will tell when it comes to the root cause of the collision, and suggested that it could have been a mechanical casualty aboard the Adalynn. Barstad denied that AIS jamming played any role.
After the collision, Frontline attempted to get in touch with Adalynn's owners, but found that it could not find an individual to talk to. Frontline had to find out from a local agent - not the shipowner - that Adalynn's crew made it safely ashore and were lodged in a hotel.
The Adalynn's listed operator has an address in an older office complex in Navi Mumbai, India. The building is home to multiple logistics, seafarer training and ship management firms, but has no public directory to confirm whether the Adalynn's operator is a tenant.
The Indian company operates two aging tankers - Adalynn, flagged in Antigua, and Carcharodon, which is sanctioned by the United Kingdom for moving Russian oil. Both Adalynn and Carcharodon are sanctioned by the government of Ukraine for involvement in Russia's shadowy oil trade.
No comments:
Post a Comment