Rising Tide: The Escalating Crisis of Sanctions-Busting Shadow Ships

Wed Feb 11 2026 07:28:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

An urgent look into the growing fleet of shadow ships evading sanctions, their implications for global security, and the desperate conditions faced by their crews.

The shadow fleet engaged in sanction-busting activities has swelled significantly since the start of the Ukraine crisis, with reports suggesting it now comprises over 1,400 vessels. This article delves into the dark practices of these ships, exemplified by the tanker Gale, and the challenges faced by international authorities in curbing their operations amidst crucial geopolitical tensions.

On 26 January, staff in an office in Mumbai received an urgent e-mail from a crew member aboard a tanker off the coast of Singapore.

The email, purportedly written on behalf of five colleagues aboard the tanker sailing under the name Beeta, contained a litany of complaints: crew members, it was alleged, had not been paid and were being treated 'like animals'; and provisions were running low. The staff in Mumbai worked for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), a leading organization for seafarers, and they recognized the gravity of the situation when the emails were also sent to sanctions enforcement bodies in various countries.

'The vessel is sanctioned and blacklisted,' the sailor wrote, reportedly referring to the vessel Beeta as actually being the American-sanctioned tanker Gale.

The shadow fleet—a term used to describe tankers circumventing international sanctions, primarily transporting Russian and Iranian oil—is rapidly growing. According to TankerTrackers.com, it has increased to 1,468 vessels, up from its size when the Ukrainian conflict intensified. This represents about 19% of the total international tanker fleet.

Many of these ships are considered 'shadow vessels', displaying characteristics such as age, poor maintenance, and manipulation of identities to evade detection. Some are classified as 'zombie ships', adopting the identities of decommissioned vessels to continue operations undetected.

The rising use of such tactics demonstrates the urgent need for effective action from international authorities. The Biden administration has had relative success in pursuing sanctions against these operations, while European nations are starting to unify their strategies to counteract this maritime lawlessness.

Countermeasures might involve (in some cases) direct military action, as evidenced by recent U.S. military efforts to seize vessels involved in transporting illicit oil. The growing trend of oil exports directly linked to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East demands immediate governance interventions to curtail this trafficking network.

A complete ban on maritime services concerning Russian oil is being considered by EU authorities, which could potentially disrupt around 30% of Russia's maritime oil exports. However, as these shadow vessels continue to adapt, the question remains: how can governments effectively respond to ensure compliance and deter evasion tactics?