Breakdown of the Sanctioned Tanker Progress
A sanctioned oil tanker, the Progress, has suffered a mechanical failure off the coast of Algeria and is now drifting without control. The vessel has altered its course and its status has been listed as 'Not Under Command'. It is currently drifting at a low speed. The Progress is part of the so-called 'shadow fleet', a 'blacklist' of over 600 tankers used to circumvent international sanctions on oil shipments.
Incident Details
The Progress is under sanctions from the European Union and the United Kingdom. The 19-year-old, LR2-class vessel was carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of Urals crude oil destined for the Suez Canal. On January 21, the tanker departed from established shipping lanes, turning north. The following day, January 22, its status was updated to 'Not Under Command'.
As of January 23, the vessel was drifting eastward at a speed of one knot. Notably, the tanker has reflagged to Russia and is managed by the St. Petersburg-based company 'Legacy Marine'. A previous CNN investigation, citing Ukrainian and Western intelligence reports, linked the use of such shadow fleet vessels to espionage activities.
The Russian Federation employs GPS spoofing technology to conceal ship movements, a tactic that may be relevant to the Progress's operations. This incident highlights the complex challenges in global maritime trade following sanctions against Russia. The movements of the shadow fleet often involve attempts to evade international norms and oversight, raising significant concerns within the global community. Such events can impact oil markets and pose risks to maritime safety if they continue to occur.