Russian Arctic ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Joins Sanctioned ‘Seahorse’
A second vessel tied to Russia’s shadow fleet has joined the sanctioned tanker Seahorse off the coast of Venezuela, days after the Seahorse was involved in a cat and mouse game with U.S. Navy forces, according to people familiar with the ship movements.
The newly arrived tanker, the Vasily Lanovoy, has previously been deployed to transport condensate linked to Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project – an operation already under heavy scrutiny from U.S. and European regulators. In this latest instance the vessel departed from the Baltic port of Ust-Luga on October 27 traveling across the Atlantic. It arrived at Venezuela’s oil loading complex at Puerto José on November 22.
Vessel History and Recent Activities
The Vasily Lanovoy has repeatedly engaged in spoofing or disengaging its AIS signal, raising concerns about its involvement in high-risk cargo operations. The vessel without an ice classification picked up several loads of condensate from the Arctic LNG 2 project between August and October 2024. It disengaged its AIS transponder for parts of those journeys.
Sanctions and Regulatory Environment
The arrival of the Vasily Lanovoy – a vessel with a well-documented history of conducting high-risk cargo operations – adds an additional layer of complexity. The vessel has been sanctioned by Canada, following similar measures by the UK and the EU in September and October 2025. Venezuela’s permissive regulatory environment and longstanding energy ties with Moscow have made its waters increasingly attractive to ships with checkered histories.
U.S. Navy Involvement and International Concerns
The U.S. Navy’s encounter with the Seahorse earlier this month underscores the growing friction surrounding this clandestine segment of the global energy trade. American officials have not publicly detailed the nature of the standoff with the U.S. destroyer USS Stockdale, but analysts say the incident highlights escalating efforts by Washington to disrupt Russia’s sanctions-evading logistics.
Global Implications and Future Outlook
The latest development is another signal of Russia’s growing reliance on dark-fleet infrastructure—aging, poorly insured tankers operating with minimal transparency—to navigate tightening export restrictions. With China’s help, the country recently engaged in the first shadow fleet ship-to-ship transfer of LNG off Malaysia’s coast. As international sanctions continue to tighten and global energy markets remain volatile, the role of Russia’s shadow fleet is likely to remain a key area of concern for U.S. officials and sanction monitors.
Original Article: Russian Arctic ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Joins Sanctioned ‘Seahorse’ After U.S. Navy Standoff Near Venezuela — Gcaptain