Russian cargo vessels turn off geolocation systems to avoid sanctions

(MENAFN) Russian cargo vessels, suspected to be part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” are increasingly turning off mandatory geolocation systems to avoid international monitoring and skirt economic sanctions, according to a joint investigation by Belgian daily De Tijd, VRT NWS, and other international media outlets.

The probe tracked nearly 1,400 oil tankers, cargo ships, and intelligence vessels believed to have links to the Kremlin. While many do not sail under the Russian flag, investigators noted suspicious navigation patterns consistent with Russia’s covert maritime operations.

The report found that these vessels now go “invisible” by switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) twice as often as they did at the start of the war in Ukraine. This behavior was particularly noted off the Belgian coast, where several ships disappeared from tracking systems.

A comparison with a control group of 100 non-suspect ships flying Dutch, German, Belgian, and Norwegian flags revealed that Russia’s “shadow fleet” operated more than six times as often without AIS as normal vessels, despite international maritime regulations mandating continuous use of the system.

Belgium’s Defense Ministry confirmed the findings, noting the behavior “likely aims to circumvent sanctions imposed on Russia since the war started in Ukraine.”
The report also highlighted that some vessels transmit false location data to hide their true positions, complicating efforts by European authorities to track illicit shipping linked to the Kremlin.

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