Suspicious activity is on the rise
Russia-linked tankers ‘going dark’
Shipping analysts Windward see a rise in suspicious activity by Russia-affiliated vessels since start of Ukraine war
“Deceptive shipping practices and dark activity have quickly multiplied” since the start of the Ukraine war, according to maritime data analysts Windward. Oceangoing vessels are obliged to transmit their location through transponder signals at regular intervals. But there are natural gaps in coverage, since the land-based receivers are not always in range, plus some updates can be lost due to "signal collision”, particularly in busy areas. Windward defines “dark activity” as gaps in vessel-tracking data they judge to be suspicious and likely to involve illicit—particularly sanction-breaking—manoeuvres. Since the imposition of sanctions against Russia, Windward has logged an average of 6.3 da
Also in this section
11 February 2026
Panellists from three LNG buyers at LNG2026 in Doha outlined their evolving procurement strategies as they navigate heightened market volatility
11 February 2026
North African producer plans to boost output by early 2030, with Europe its number one priority as export destination
11 February 2026
Maritime leaders at LNG2026 warned of the dangers of over-regulation on competitiveness, sustainability and innovation
10 February 2026
The country has opened bidding on 50 blocks in a new licensing round but will face competition for attention and will need to address concerns about security and legislation
