Oil Tanker Suspected of Belonging to “Dark Fleet” Suddenly Appears in Norway
The oil tanker Vayu 1, previously accused of participating in high-risk oil transport activities and listed as a sanctioned vessel by many Western countries, entered Norway‘s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Barents Sea on June 12. The ship, which is currently flying the Cameroon flag, started leaving port on May 30 but its destination has not yet been determined.
According to maritime tracking data from MarineTraffic, Vayu 1 has changed its registered nationality up to nine times since 2023. For most of 2025, the ship operated under a fake flag or unidentified nationality. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) issues the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code) to ensure safe ship operation and prevent environmental pollution.
Vessel’s History Raises Concerns
Available data suggests that Vayu 1 may be operating without complying with international maritime safety regulations. The ship has repeatedly turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) and participated in oil transfer activities between ships at sea, putting it in the group at high risk of evading surveillance and international sanctions.
Sanctions List and Registered Owner
Vayu 1 is currently on the sanctions list of the European Union (EU), the UK, and some other countries. The current registered owner of the ship is Layla Maritime Inc., a company based in Seychelles and on Ukraine’s sanctions list. The ship has a total registered capacity of about 23,240 tons.
“Dark Fleet” Connection
According to analysis of maritime transport data conducted by Barents Observer, since September 2025, more than 120 sanctioned ships have traveled along the coast of Norway. Most of these are heading towards the Russian port of Murmansk and most are oil tankers. Vayu 1 also moved along the coast of Norway in March this year.
Security Personnel Investigation
Barents Observer reported that many ships believed to belong to the “dark fleet” transporting Russian oil currently have security personnel who have fought in Ukraine. According to an investigation by The Times, a significant number of these employees used to work for the Wagner mercenary force. The newspaper determined that at least 83 former Wagner members appeared on 189 sea voyages passing through British waters since 2023.
The security personnel are not armed but have the task of monitoring the captains and preventing any cooperation with European authorities when ships move through international waters.
Original Article: Oil tanker suspected of belonging to the “dark fleet” suddenly appears in Norway — Laodong