More than three years ago, the term “dark fleet” emerged when tankers started turning off their vessel-tracking transponders to conceal the origin and destination of US-sanctioned oil. This evasive tactic, known as “going dark,” quickly became associated with the growing fleet of tankers involved in shipping Iranian and Venezuelan oil. However, “going dark” is just one of several deceptive shipping practices identified.
The dark fleet now consists of over 450 tankers, as more vessels attempt to evade international restrictions. Nevertheless, these vessels no longer fall under a broad, catch-all category of “dark fleet.” Compliance teams should be particularly vigilant about certain tankers’ practices and apply distinct risk profiles based on their characteristics.
For an in-depth analysis of the various nuances within the dark fleet, download the Lloyd’s List Intelligence whitepaper. Gain insights into which vessels warrant the highest level of concern.
To monitor dark tankers and assess their varying levels of risk, utilize sophisticated tools like Seasearcher Advanced Risk & Compliance. This platform introduces market-first features to compliance teams in the maritime industry, offering a validated perspective on maritime trading risk and previously inaccessible context. Professionals benefit from time and effort savings in conducting sanctions compliance checks, investigations, and monitoring vessels for illicit activities such as high-risk port callings and dark ship-to-ship transfers.
For more information see n Lloyd’s List Intelligence www.lloydslistintelligence.com
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