Why is it in the news?
Russian tanker linked to shadow fleet diverted to India.
Category: International Relations
Important Points:
● Refers to ships transporting sanctioned oil secretly
● Used by countries like Russia, Iran, Venezuela
● Ships disable AIS to avoid tracking
● Engage in ship-to-ship oil transfers to hide origin
● Use flags of convenience and shell companies
● Exploit gaps in UNCLOS enforcement
● Raises environmental and regulatory concerns
● India imported ~55% of Russian crude via such tankers (2025)
● Creates geopolitical and compliance risks