News

Japan has received a shipment of Russian crude oil for the first time in more than two years, and it arrived on the 'Voyager', which has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union. The Taiyo Oil Co., a Japanese refiner based in Tokyo, has taken delivery of 600,000 barrels of Sakhalin Blend crude from the tanker. The oil was loaded from the Prigorodnoye terminal, located at the southern tip of Russia’s Sakhalin Island, on May 25, 2025. The 'Voyager' docked at the port of Kikuma on June 9 to unload the cargo. The 'Voyager', previously sailing as the 'Vernadsky Prospect', is one of 161 tankers that were sanctioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in Jan 2024 under then-President Joe Biden. The European Union blacklisted the vessel in February as part of its sanctions on Russia. Despite the sanctions, Japan has continued to receive waivers allowing the import of Sakhalin Blend crude on the grounds of national energy security. This waiver was extended in the EU’s 17th sanctions package on May 21 and remains valid until late June 2026. A separate US waiver, which permits similar activity, is set to expire on June 28, though it is generally extended as a matter of policy. The purchase was made at the request of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). A liquefied natural gas (LNG) project backed by Japan would have been impacted if the crude oil could not be transported, as both LNG and crude are extracted together in the same process.

On May 28, 2025, the 'Elfin Safarov' was detained in Elevsis with seven deficiencies, five of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management System Not properly maintained 2) Pollution Prevention - Oil filtering equipment Not properly maintained 3) Pollution Prevention - Sewage treatment plant Not as required 4) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Not as required 5) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on May 3, left the port enroute to Sulina and dropped anchor in pos. 45° 23' N 029° 04' E on June 6. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

On June 10, 2025, at 4.15 p.m. the medical evacuation of a 3-year-old boy was requested by the medical service on the 'Majestic', sailing between Barcelona and Tangier, about 57 nautical miles east of Castelló, due to his serious condition due to respiratory problems. The CCS Tarragona of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the SAR helicopter Helimer 213, which hoisted the boy at 6 p.m. and transported him along with his father to the Reus Airport, where an ambulance was waiting after the arrival at around 6:40 p.m. Te ambulance transported them to the Sant Joan Hospital.

Israel has expelled the 12 activists from the Gaza solidarity ship 'Barcarole', which the army intercepted onon the morning of June 9 around 200 kilometers from the Gaza Strip's coast in international waters. They have arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to leave Israel and return to their home countries and scheduled to leave on June 10. The activists were met at the airport by consuls from their respective home countries. On board the "Madleen" were people from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, and Brazil. Eight of them refused to sign the necessary expulsion documents. Among them was French MEP Rima Hassan. In addition to Thunberg, three other activists signed the exit forms against this and were told to return to their home countries. Those who refused to sign the expulsion documents will be brought before a judicial authority in accordance with Israeli law to have their expulsion approved. The ship arrived in the port city of Ashdod on the evening of June 9. Reports with photos: https://www.westernslopenow.com/news/ap-israel-says-greta-thunberg-is-being-deported-after-gaza-bound-ship-she-was-on-was-seized/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-10/greta-thunberg-boat-interception-latest-doran/105397110 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/08/middleeast/freedom-flotilla-gaza-aid-ship-thunberg-intl-hnk

On June 3, 2025, the Alsterdiep' was detained in Setubal with three deficiencies, two of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Not as required 2) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on June 5 and left the port en route to Sheerness with an ETA as of June 11. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591