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On March 13, 2025, the 'Daban', carrying Russian crude transferred from three smaller tankers that are under U.S. sanctions unloaded at a berth run by the privately-controlled Qingdao Haiye Group at the port of Qingdao, ending an unusual month-long voyage highlighting the efforts of producers and traders to keep Moscow's oil flowing despite tightened curbs. The VLCC was carrying two million barrels of Russian Sokol oil. The cargo was initially headed to the port of Yantai in Shandong province, a refining hub and top destination for oil sanctioned by the United States. Yantai, part of Shandong Port Group, rejected the cargo.The 'Daban' had transferred oil from the tankers 'Vladimir Arsenyev' on Feb 3, the 'Kapitan Kostichev' on Feb 9 and the 'Victor Konetsky' on Feb 10 at Nakhoda Bay in Russian territorial waters. These three vessels had come under U.S. sanctions on Jan 10. Nakhoda Bay is not known as a regular site for ship-to-ship transfers of oil, making the 'Daban's movements more conspicuous. The tanker is managed by Hong Kong-based Confident Apex Ltd,, while contact information for the company was not available.

A Russian naval force consisting of four ships was close to rounding Skagen Reef on the afternoon of March 19, 2025, heading towards the Great Belt. The Royal Navy, along with NATO allies, had conducted a coordinated operation to monitor the Russian naval task group since entering the English Channel on March 16. The Type 23 frigate HMS 'Somerset', the minehunter HMS 'Cattistock' and the RFA 'Tidesurge' had participated in the monitoring operation, which began south of Portsmouth. The operation involved both naval assets and aerial surveillance, including a RAF P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth. The ships were on their way back from Syria, where they have picked up military equipment that is no longer needed after the Russian-backed President Assad's regime fell in Dec 2024. The ships have been continuously shadowed by aircraft and warships from the NATO countries they have passed, a task that was taken over by units from the Danish Navy when the naval force have passed Skagen. The convoy consisted of the destroyer 'Severomorsk', the landing craft 'Aleksandr Shabalin', and the cargo ships 'Sparta IV' and 'Siyanie Severa', both of which sailing for the Russian Navy. The naval force was on its way to St. Petersburg with the 'SParta IV' having an ETA as of March 24, where equipment from Syria has previously been brought ashore. The Russians are negotiating with the new rulers in Syria for permission to continue using the strategically important naval base in Tartus. The Russians are prepared to pay for the base with Russian oil. The status of these negotiations was unknown. Report with photos: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/march/19/250319-royal-navy-shadow-russian-task-group-returning-from-syria-in-the-channel

A Russian naval force consisting of four ships was close to rounding Skagen Reef on the afternoon of March 19, 2025, heading towards the Great Belt. The Royal Navy, along with NATO allies, had conducted a coordinated operation to monitor the Russian naval task group since entering the English Channel on March 16. The Type 23 frigate HMS 'Somerset', the minehunter HMS 'Cattistock' and the RFA 'Tidesurge' had participated in the monitoring operation, which began south of Portsmouth. The operation involved both naval assets and aerial surveillance, including a RAF P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth. The ships were on their way back from Syria, where they have picked up military equipment that is no longer needed after the Russian-backed President Assad's regime fell in Dec 2024. The ships have been continuously shadowed by aircraft and warships from the NATO countries they have passed, a task that was taken over by units from the Danish Navy when the naval force have passed Skagen. The convoy consisted of the destroyer 'Severomorsk', the landing craft 'Aleksandr Shabalin', and the cargo ships 'Sparta IV' and 'Siyanie Severa', both of which sailing for the Russian Navy. The naval force was on its way to St. Petersburg with the 'SParta IV' having an ETA as of March 24, where equipment from Syria has previously been brought ashore. The Russians are negotiating with the new rulers in Syria for permission to continue using the strategically important naval base in Tartus. The Russians are prepared to pay for the base with Russian oil. The status of these negotiations was unknown. Report with photos: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/march/19/250319-royal-navy-shadow-russian-task-group-returning-from-syria-in-the-channel

A firearm and 600 rounds of ammunition were seized from the 'Malau' at the Suva Harbour. The Fijian Navy ship RFNS 'Timo' had intercepted the ferryand escorted it to Suva on March 18, 2025, at 3.35 a.m. (UTC+13). where the gun and ammunitions were seized. The gun had proper documentation from Tonga but the recipient in Fiji did not posses a licence for the firearm. The reasons behind the interception of the ferry, which was en route from Tongatapu to Suva for maintenance, remained unclear. The necessary documentation for the export of the firearm and ammunition had been provided. The ship was not detained by the Fiji Navy. Neither the captain, nor the crew are under custody.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak has detained the 'Queen Harmony' on March 17, 2025, at around 3:30 p.m. The authorities found that the vessel had anchored approximately 13 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak, but had neither obtained any anchor permit from the Malaysian Marine Department nor reported its arrival in Malaysian waters. The case was being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which imposes a maximum fine of around $21,000 USD or imprisonment of up to two years. A failure to report the arrival may result in an additional fine of up to around $1,050 USD. The bulk carrier has an Egyptian captain and 20 crew members, among them one Russian, two Ukrainians, and 17 Filipinos. Two crew members have been taken to the MMEA Perak Headquarters for further investigations.