Tanker captain and owner, who were escorted out of Estonian waters in May, have been listed under sanctions
The Estonian Transport Administration has announced sanctions against the tanker Jaguar and its associated parties, following an incident involving a violation of EU sanctions on Russian oil exports. The vessel, which was escorted out of Estonian territorial waters in May 2025, is believed to have been involved in activities that contravened the sanctions, thus enabling Russia to bypass restrictions by using a shadow fleet.
The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, target both the captain and the owning company of the Jaguar. The EU's 18th sanctions package, which includes measures such as lowering the price cap on Russian oil and banning transactions tied to pipelines and refined petroleum imports, also added the tanker and its associated companies to the sanctions list.
The shadow fleet, which includes tankers with complicated registrations and ownership designed to evade detection and enforcement, is a network that secretly helps Russia continue oil trade despite the imposed restrictions. This undermines the sanctions regime aimed at Russia due to its war in Ukraine.
The owner companies of the Jaguar, including those registered in Hong Kong and Mauritius, were also sanctioned as part of this network supporting Russia’s shadow fleet operations. The sanctions are currently still in effect, and the Jaguar is no longer operating within Estonia's economic waters.
The sanctions have caused a significant impact on the shipping industry, with many companies and vessels now facing increased scrutiny and potential penalties for any activities that may be perceived as circumventing EU sanctions on Russian oil. The Estonian authorities have emphasised their commitment to enforcing the embargo on Russian energy exports and hindering Russia’s war effort.
[1] BBC News, "EU imposes fresh sanctions on Russia over Ukraine", 2025-05-01,
- The sanctions, affecting both the Jaguar's captain and its owning company, are part of the EU's 18th sanctions package, which also targets the tanker and its associated companies due to their suspected involvement in Russia's shadow fleet, secretly circumventing EU sanctions on oil exports.
- The announcement of sanctions against the Jaguar highlights the needlepoint between the transport sector and finance, as other companies and vessels are now subject to increased scrutiny in order to prevent any perceived circumvention of EU sanctions on Russian oil, potentially affecting the overall stability of the global transportation industry.
