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Shadow fleet tanker detained with serious shortcomings

On Aug 28, 2025, the local authorities in Murmansk have detained the 'Unity', sailing under the flag of Lesotho, after the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (SUR) requested a port state control. The tanker was held due to wage arrears to the crew, a non-functioning Inmarsat satellite number, and serious problems with vessel documentation. After state inspectors boarded the vessel, they confirmed multiple violations, and refused to issue clearance to sail until they were resolved. The tanker has been sanctioned by the EU, UK, Switzerland and several other countries for transporting Russian oil. The crew members told the union that they had received their June wages only on July 27, while their July salaries remained unpaid. Some sailors who left the ship have not received their final settlements. As of Aug. 13, the tanker’s captain had calculated total wage arrears for the 20 crew members at nearly $90,000. Some crew contracts were signed with the Argo Tanker Group LLC (ООО «Арго Танкер Групп»), which was not legally listed as the ship owner, while others were with the FMTC ShipCharter LLC. Aside from this, some contracts referenced a collective agreement with the Seafarers’ Union of Russia that in fact did not exist. The sailors also reported that the vessel’s flag registration in Gambia had expired on Aug. 5, which automatically invalidated its insurance policy. The new registration documents issued under Lesotho’s flag, along with a Pyramid Marine Overseas insurance policy, listed the Petroleum United FZCO as the registry company. The crew feared that if the vessel has indeed switched flags and registries, their contracts could be invalid, and they would be unable to file P&I insurance claims in the event that the ship owner fails to honor its wage obligations. The 'Unity' has repeatedly changed names and flag states since its launch in 2009. From Sep 2024 to Feb 2025, it sailed under the Russian flag. The vessel’s operator is the Argo Tanker Group LLC, which is under U.S. sanctions. The company is registered in Moscow at Presnenskaya Embankment 10, Building 2, Office 139.

Russian shadow tanker broke down

The laden ' Unity' has broken down in the stormy Bay of Biscay off France on Jan 23, 2025. The aframax tanker had departed from Primorsk on Jan 16 with Russian oil bound for Mangalore. The ship ran into difficulties overnight off the west coast of France, losing its propulsion during extremely stormy conditions in the Atlantic. On Jan 24 the ship turned around, and on Jan 27 it dropped anchor off the French coast in pos. 49° 49' N 000° 56' W. The tanker is owned by Moscow-headquartered Argo Tanker Group, who acquired the ship in September 2024.

Tanker of Russian shipowner arrested due to unpaid spare parts

The 'Unity' has been arrested at Mundra Port on Nov 29, 20924, by the Guma Tech Marine Services, a Bhavnagar-based supplier of reconditioned marine spare parts sourced from ships being recycled at Alang, for a payment of $110,000 for parts it supplied to the tanker in June. The 'Unity' was arrested as an associate vessel after arriving off Mundra on Nov 25 en route from fMurmansk. The tanker was fully laden at the time of its arrest and had not yet discharged its cargo of Russian crude oil. The 'Unity' was acquired from the Comet Maritime & Trading of Turkey only in Sep 2023.