Ukraine has officially announced that it is ready to sell the seized oil tanker Emmakris III. This tanker has been detained in the port of Chornomorsk since February 2022, coinciding with the start of the war in Ukraine, and according to Ukrainian officials, it belongs to Russian interests.
History and Status of the Emmakris III Tanker
The Emmakris III tanker, built in Japan in 2000, has a capacity of 73,000 tons and is specifically designed for transporting grains. At the time of its seizure, the tanker was loading approximately 60,000 tons of grains purchased by the Egyptian government. According to released images, this tanker currently remains abandoned in the port of Chornomorsk and is in good condition.
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Details of the Sale and Legal Process
The Ukrainian Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has announced that the Emmakris III tanker has been listed as a sellable asset on the agency's website. This agency has previously sold tankers but decided in 2024 to manage the tanker for grain storage purposes while continuing to pursue the case in the courts. In 2025, ARMA successfully halted the removal of a Panamanian tanker that was claiming a similar status.
In court, ARMA presented evidence showing that despite the registered owners of this tanker being reported in the United Arab Emirates, the actual owners are a Russian company named Linter, registered in Rostov-on-Don. This tanker is currently managed by a Turkish company and was renamed Akris in 2025, although Ukraine continues to use its previous name.
ARMA has not yet announced a specific time for the commencement of the sale of the tanker. The agency's goal is to raise funds from seized assets to compensate for financial damages caused by the war. Assets are typically transferred to this agency by the courts.
The attempt to sell Emmakris III follows the unsuccessful sale of several vessels earlier this month. In September, ARMA listed nine different tankers, all of which had been seized in the Izmail area on the Danube. The value of these assets was estimated at approximately $3.4 million, but due to the poor condition of some vessels and the damages incurred, no buyers attended the auction on October 8.
This situation highlights the challenges Ukraine faces in trying to generate revenue from seized assets. Given the current conditions and the reluctance of buyers, the future of the sale of this tanker and other seized assets remains uncertain.
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