The 22-year-old Dakar tanker, which lacks an ice class, is currently heading west along the northern route of Russia. This tanker, with a capacity of 21,300 tons, is carrying methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and was loaded through a ship-to-ship transfer in South Korea.
Sanctions and Tanker Status
This unusual journey is notable due to the absence of ice class reinforcement and the advanced age of the Dakar tanker. Previously known as Vulkanom, it was renamed Dakar in 2024 and is owned by Vulkan Marine SA. The commercial management of this tanker is also handled by Ultra Marine Navigation Management in Dubai.
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The European Union sanctioned this tanker in July, identifying it as a vessel involved in the transportation of oil products of Russian origin and unusual navigation practices. Ukrainian officials have also categorized this tanker among Russia's shadow fleet and have monitored its previous voyages from Russian Black Sea ports.
Challenges of the Northern Route
Generally, the rules of the northern route of Russia do not impose restrictions on the entry of conventional vessels; however, ships without ice class can enter between July 1 and November 15. These regulations gradually become stricter with the development of ice. Nonetheless, most tankers operating on this route are equipped for polar conditions.
The Dakar's journey at this particular time, especially as the summer navigation season approaches its serious challenges, is significant. Last year's experience shows that non-ice-class tankers face dangers in these areas. For instance, the Suezmax tanker Lynx had to wait several days due to sea ice near 72 degrees north while carrying Russian crude oil to China.
However, Dakar is not the only non-ice-class tanker that has ventured into polar voyages in recent years, but this category of vessels still constitutes a minority of traffic in this region. Monitoring conducted by the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center indicates that Dakar has entered this area among conventional tankers, adding to an increasing number of sanctioned or ambiguous vessels.
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