UK sanctions 135 tankers and Gabonese flag operator

THE UK has followed the EU in another huge sanctions package, which lists 135 oil tankers in Russia’s shadow fleet.

Alongside the tankers, the UK has also sanctioned Dubai-based Litasco Middle East — linked to Russia’s Lukoil — as well as Intershipping Service LLC, which runs the Gabonese flag registry.

The flag has been responsible for registering vessels that have transported up to $10bn worth of goods on behalf of the Russian state, the UK government said in its announcement.

The UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has issued Intershipping Services with a wind down general licence, which allows UK companies to deal with the sanctioned entity to close out deals and “wind down” business until the licence’s expiry, in this case September 18, 2025.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said this latest raft of sanctions “will further dismantle Putin’s shadow fleet and drain Russia’s war chest of its critical oil revenues”.

“As Putin continues to stall and delay on serious peace talks, we will not stand idly by. We will continue to use the full might of our sanctions regime to ratchet up economic pressure at every turn and stand side by side with Ukraine,” he said.

This latest announcement follows the EU’s own package which came late last week, in which another 105 vessels, 14 individuals and 41 entities were listed by the bloc, including Intershipping Services.

In its listing, the EU claimed Intershipping Services runs the Comoros flag registry too.

“Several vessels flagged through the Gabon and Comoros international flag registries have regularly engaged in high-risk shipping practices,” the EU listing said.

“Such practices include not maintaining adequate liability insurance, carrying out unsafe operations, intentionally taking measures to avoid ship detection such as switching off their Automatic Identification Systems or not operating under a transparent corporate governance policy that assures the welfare and safety of those on board and the protection of the marine environment.”