According to the latest report from Starboard Maritime Intelligence - a unit specializing in international maritime data analysis, a wave of ship nationality changes is taking place on a large scale. Data recorded since the beginning of last month shows that at least 26 oil tankers have completed procedures to switch to flying the Russian flag.
This trend increased sharply right after the event on December 10, 2025, when US authorities arrested the super oil tanker named Skipper in the waters off Venezuela. This event sent an alarming signal to ship owners: Registration of ships in small countries such as Panama, Guinea or Comoros - which have loose regulations - is no longer safe against US sanctions and crackdowns.
Instead, the registration of Russian-owned ships is considered a strategic move.
Mr. Charlie Brown - senior advisor at United Against Nuclear Iran - said: "Ship owners are calculating that Moscow will provide a diplomatic cover that other countries cannot do. This turns the issue of sanctions violations from a maritime administrative violation into a geopolitical challenge related to national sovereignty.
The level of tension of this tactic is clearly shown through the chase of the Bella 1 ship (later renamed Marinera).
After escaping surveillance near Venezuela in mid-December, this ship removed its old registration in Guyana to switch to flying the Russian flag, and the crew even painted the Russian flag on the hull as a deterrent measure.
Sources said that the Russian Navy has taken action to send warships to escort, but US forces still promptly controlled this ship in southern Iceland last week.
Not only changing the flag, the ownership structure of these ships is also being transferred to Russia.
Data shows that many ships in the group of 26 ships mentioned above are currently owned by new legal entities such as New Fleet Ltd. or North Fleet Ltd. These companies have registered addresses that coincide with the headquarters of a unit belonging to Sovcomflot - a Russian giant state-owned maritime transport corporation in St. Petersburg.
Currently, it is estimated that about 13% of the nearly 1,500 ships belonging to the "dark fleet" transporting oil in the world are operating under Russian nationality.
Analysts predict this number will continue to increase as the administration of US President Donald Trump tightens tariff and sanctions, forcing illegal transport fleets to return to Russia as a final safe haven.
