The Russian cargo ship Lady Mariia (IMO 9220641) moved towards Side port after passing through the Strait of Gibraltar on August 29 and anchored at this port on September 8. This ship, known for its military cargo, has been specifically chartered by its legal owners, MG-Flot, for the transportation of these cargoes.
Attacks and Sanctions
The Lady Mariia was attacked on September 6 while heading east in the sea between Crete and the shores of Libya. This attack, similar to an attack on the Omani-flagged oil tanker Qendil (IMO 9310525) last December, was carried out by bomber drones that fired a total of 12 rounds. These attacks have been attributed to a Ukrainian intelligence unit based in Misrata.
Read more: Aframax Rio oil tanker fire in the Black Sea due to drone attack
Current Status of the Ship
The Lady Mariia has been at anchor in Side port for 35 days. This ship, which has automatic loading and unloading capabilities, could have been chartered for about $15,000 per day. The estimated lost revenue is now around half a million dollars. Given that this ship is currently in illegal Egyptian waters, MG-Flot must also cover the costs associated with using Side port.
This ship has been sanctioned by the United States since May 2022 and has been mentioned for transporting stolen military materials from Ukraine and sending weapons to Syria. MG-Flot was also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in June 2021.
The status of the Lady Mariia at this port may be due to its role in intelligence gathering. With the withdrawal of the Russian Mediterranean fleet from base 720 in Tartus and the reduction of Russia's naval presence in the Mediterranean, this ship is likely acting as an intelligence collector. Although this ship is not explicitly equipped as an intelligence collector, it can monitor movements in the Suez Canal using commercial radar and visual observation.
Conclusion
The Lady Mariia is not alone, as a similar ship named Lady D (IMO 9349289) is also returning to the Baltic. This ship is also known for being a weapons carrier due to sanctions. Given that these ships are located near sensitive information areas, they are likely conducting intelligence missions for CRINKY countries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and the Houthis).
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