More than 15 tankers switch their flags to Russian within two weeks – WSJ
According to Ukrinform, The Wall Street Journal stated this in an article, citing data from Lloyd's List Intelligence.
It is noted that vessels flying the Russian flag still make up only a small share of Russia's shadow fleet.
Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd's List Intelligence stated that adopting the Russian flag is a way for the shadow fleet to protect itself from raids. This could undoubtedly become a source of conflict between Washington and Moscow.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, during the last three months of 2025, 25 tankers were re-registered under the Russian flag. Of these, 18 vessels changed flags in December, and up to 16 were subject to sanctions by the United Kingdom or the United States. It remains unclear whether such changes made during a voyage are legal under international maritime law, S&P noted.
The article says that until recently, most vessels in Russia's shadow fleet sailed under little-known flags such as that of Gabon, or under so-called flags of convenience, such as Liberia's. Some vessels carried falsified flags of countries such as East Timor and Malawi.
Shipping executives and lawyers said that those controlling the tankers that recently adopted the Russian flag hoped the United States would not dare interfere with vessels that Moscow considers its own.
The publication notes that maritime powers have used their flags on ships for centuries. After World War II, global rules were adopted that place responsibility on countries for the safety of vessels listed in their registries.
Although flag states are not obligated to defend vessels registered under their flag if they are attacked, countries with large navies, such as Russia, often do so, maritime lawyers and shipping executives said.
The spread of unreliable flags and registries has heightened concerns about possible accidents involving old tankers carrying sanctioned cargoes, but until the recent detentions, Western governments largely allowed them to sail without interference, WSJ writes.
As Ukrinform reported, on January 7 U.S. law enforcement and military personnel detained an oil tanker flying the Russian flag in the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo: Stefan Sauer/dpa/picture alliance
