Second ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Switches to Russian Flag to Avoid US Arrest
A second “shadow fleet” tanker has been recorded switching to the Russian flag in waters near Venezuela.
The ship Hyperion changed its registration to Russian in an effort to avoid possible arrest by the United States, according to gCaptain.
Previously, a similar move was made by the tanker Bella 1, which, after changing its flag, was renamed Marinera.
Dozens of tankers are currently in Venezuelan waters, many of which are loaded with oil. Re-flagging to Russia could become a new method of avoiding arrests, especially considering the changes in control approaches.
In December, the tanker Hyperion loaded oil products in the Russian port of Murmansk and delivered them to Venezuela. This is the first known case of a direct link between Russia’s Arctic routes and the illegal Venezuelan oil market.
After unloading in Venezuela, the vessel headed to Cartagena, Colombia, where it likely underwent a flag change. Under maritime law, changing flags during a voyage is not permitted, so a stop in port was necessary. Previously, the tanker was under the flags of Liberia, Gabon, Barbados, and the Comoros.
The Hyperion officially switched to the Russian flag on December 24. At the same time, ownership and management of the ship were transferred to the company New Fleet Ltd from St. Petersburg. As of January 6, the tanker is heading to the Russian port of Ust-Luga.
