Why is it in the news?
→ US intensified crackdown on shadow fleet transporting sanctioned crude.
→ Highlighted risks of deceptive shipping networks.
Category
IR
Important Points
- Shadow fleet consists of over 3,000 vessels.
- Uses AIS disabling, GNSS spoofing and opaque ownership.
- Transports oil from Iran, Venezuela and Russia.
- Dark fleets hide activity via false flags and ship-to-ship transfers.
- Grey fleets show irregular routes and rapid ownership changes.
- Many vessels registered in Gabon, Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Liberia, Panama and Mongolia.
- Mumbai-based Gatik Ship Management managed a fleet worth USD 1.5 billion in 2022–23.