Greenpeace

In the final few days of the Joe Biden administration officials in the US have come up with their biggest package of sanctions yet aimed at the dark fleet and Russia’s oil production and exports.

In total, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added sanctions to 183 ships, including 155 tankers, as well as going after energy giants Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, with affiliates, plus their CEOs. Shipping companies including Sovcomflot, and a series of dark fleet operators have also been targeted as have Russia-based marine insurers  Ingosstrakh and Alfastrakhovanie. The sprawling sanctions package also includes companies such as China’s Wison who have delivered modules to the Arctic LNG 2 project.

The tankers just sanctioned by OFAC carried a little under half – 45% by volume – of Russia’s crude exports in 2024 and 7% of its refined products, according t…