The DeepDraft
@thedeepdraft.bsky.social
Master Mariner.
Writing on maritime operations, navigation, safety, and accountability.
Long-form analysis and daily factual updates at TheDeepDraft.com.
Signal over noise. Systems over blame.
Writing on maritime operations, navigation, safety, and accountability.
Long-form analysis and daily factual updates at TheDeepDraft.com.
Signal over noise. Systems over blame.
The ‘dark fleet’ designation reflects exclusion from Western compliance systems, not illegality per se. The vessels are sanctioned by the West, uninsured by the West, and therefore invisible to Western monitoring norms.
More on - thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
More on - thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
When Shipping Turns Grey: Life and Law Inside the Shadow Fleet
When a ship “goes grey,” it doesn’t disappear.It slips into a world where names change and paperwork turns to smoke. Yet the people aboard still wake to the same seas, navigating under rules that n…
thedeepdraft.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:58 AM
The ‘dark fleet’ designation reflects exclusion from Western compliance systems, not illegality per se. The vessels are sanctioned by the West, uninsured by the West, and therefore invisible to Western monitoring norms.
More on - thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
More on - thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
Bulk carrier Sfera remains hard aground near Seskar Island in the eastern Gulf of Finland.
Multiple refloating attempts have failed.
No hull breach or pollution reported so far, heavy salvage likely required.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/11/b...
Multiple refloating attempts have failed.
No hull breach or pollution reported so far, heavy salvage likely required.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/11/b...
Bulk Carrier Sfera Remains Aground in Gulf of Finland; Refloating Attempts Unsuccessful
The bulk carrier Sfera remains hard aground near Seskar Island in the eastern Gulf of Finland, after multiple refloating attempts failed. The vessel grounded on 7 February while en route from Visti…
thedeepdraft.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Bulk carrier Sfera remains hard aground near Seskar Island in the eastern Gulf of Finland.
Multiple refloating attempts have failed.
No hull breach or pollution reported so far, heavy salvage likely required.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/11/b...
Multiple refloating attempts have failed.
No hull breach or pollution reported so far, heavy salvage likely required.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/11/b...
Ageing tankers. Fake owners. Crews trapped for months.
The shadow shipping economy isn’t just dodging sanctions, it’s dumping risk on seafarers and ports while regulators look the other way. This is what oil’s grey trade really costs.
🔗 bbc.com/news/article...
The shadow shipping economy isn’t just dodging sanctions, it’s dumping risk on seafarers and ports while regulators look the other way. This is what oil’s grey trade really costs.
🔗 bbc.com/news/article...
The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers
A growing number of tankers and other commercial vessels are being ditched by their owners.
bbc.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Ageing tankers. Fake owners. Crews trapped for months.
The shadow shipping economy isn’t just dodging sanctions, it’s dumping risk on seafarers and ports while regulators look the other way. This is what oil’s grey trade really costs.
🔗 bbc.com/news/article...
The shadow shipping economy isn’t just dodging sanctions, it’s dumping risk on seafarers and ports while regulators look the other way. This is what oil’s grey trade really costs.
🔗 bbc.com/news/article...
U.S. forces boarded the Suezmax tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean as part of sanctions enforcement linked to Venezuelan oil trade.
The boarding was conducted without incident.
No official images of the operation have been released.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/10/u...
The boarding was conducted without incident.
No official images of the operation have been released.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/10/u...
U.S. Forces Board Sanctions-Linked Tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean
U.S. military forces boarded the Suezmax tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean within the last 24 hours, following monitoring linked to suspected sanctions violations involving Venezuelan crude oil.…
thedeepdraft.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:14 AM
U.S. forces boarded the Suezmax tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean as part of sanctions enforcement linked to Venezuelan oil trade.
The boarding was conducted without incident.
No official images of the operation have been released.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/10/u...
The boarding was conducted without incident.
No official images of the operation have been released.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/10/u...
Bridge visibility is a legitimate operational concern with Flettner rotors.
Lowered rotor configurations significantly reduce that risk.
This is a design response to real bridge-level issues.
Operational control in confined waters still matters.
Lowered rotor configurations significantly reduce that risk.
This is a design response to real bridge-level issues.
Operational control in confined waters still matters.
February 9, 2026 at 4:16 AM
Bridge visibility is a legitimate operational concern with Flettner rotors.
Lowered rotor configurations significantly reduce that risk.
This is a design response to real bridge-level issues.
Operational control in confined waters still matters.
Lowered rotor configurations significantly reduce that risk.
This is a design response to real bridge-level issues.
Operational control in confined waters still matters.
Sanctions-linked tanker Chariot Tide signalled “Not Under Command” while operating near the Strait of Gibraltar.
Authorities are monitoring the situation in the busy chokepoint.
No disruption to traffic reported so far.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/09/s...
Authorities are monitoring the situation in the busy chokepoint.
No disruption to traffic reported so far.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/09/s...
February 9, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Sanctions-linked tanker Chariot Tide signalled “Not Under Command” while operating near the Strait of Gibraltar.
Authorities are monitoring the situation in the busy chokepoint.
No disruption to traffic reported so far.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/09/s...
Authorities are monitoring the situation in the busy chokepoint.
No disruption to traffic reported so far.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/09/s...
The so-called “shadow fleet” exists because global trade and geopolitical narratives no longer align.
Different states define legitimacy differently.
Crews aren’t policymakers, and ships aren’t moral actors.
This is statecraft playing out on commercial hulls.
thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
Different states define legitimacy differently.
Crews aren’t policymakers, and ships aren’t moral actors.
This is statecraft playing out on commercial hulls.
thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
When Shipping Turns Grey: Life and Law Inside the Shadow Fleet
When a ship “goes grey,” it doesn’t disappear.It slips into a world where names change and paperwork turns to smoke. Yet the people aboard still wake to the same seas, navigating under rules that n…
thedeepdraft.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:03 AM
The so-called “shadow fleet” exists because global trade and geopolitical narratives no longer align.
Different states define legitimacy differently.
Crews aren’t policymakers, and ships aren’t moral actors.
This is statecraft playing out on commercial hulls.
thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
Different states define legitimacy differently.
Crews aren’t policymakers, and ships aren’t moral actors.
This is statecraft playing out on commercial hulls.
thedeepdraft.com/2025/10/12/w...
Indian Coast Guard intercepted three tankers ~100 nm west of Mumbai in a coordinated sea–air operation targeting illicit oil transfers.
ICG-released images show one vessel bearing #Maersk livery.
Vessels are being escorted to Mumbai for legal action.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/08/i...
ICG-released images show one vessel bearing #Maersk livery.
Vessels are being escorted to Mumbai for legal action.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/08/i...
February 8, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Indian Coast Guard intercepted three tankers ~100 nm west of Mumbai in a coordinated sea–air operation targeting illicit oil transfers.
ICG-released images show one vessel bearing #Maersk livery.
Vessels are being escorted to Mumbai for legal action.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/08/i...
ICG-released images show one vessel bearing #Maersk livery.
Vessels are being escorted to Mumbai for legal action.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/08/i...
Ports have entered the anti-drone era.
VOC Port, Thoothukudi, has announced a port-wide operational anti-drone deployment, expanding port security from the waterline into the air domain.
Port risk is now multi-domain.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/07/v...
VOC Port, Thoothukudi, has announced a port-wide operational anti-drone deployment, expanding port security from the waterline into the air domain.
Port risk is now multi-domain.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/07/v...
VOC Port Announces Port-Wide Operational Anti-Drone Deployment
The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, located at Thoothukudi on India’s southeast coast, has announced the operational deployment of a port-wide anti-drone system, providing 360-degree airspace su…
thedeepdraft.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Ports have entered the anti-drone era.
VOC Port, Thoothukudi, has announced a port-wide operational anti-drone deployment, expanding port security from the waterline into the air domain.
Port risk is now multi-domain.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/07/v...
VOC Port, Thoothukudi, has announced a port-wide operational anti-drone deployment, expanding port security from the waterline into the air domain.
Port risk is now multi-domain.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/07/v...
As a cadet, I was told to plan my future around gas.
25 years later, VLCC spot rates crossed $100,000/day.
A reminder that markets decide careers, not slogans.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/02/g...
25 years later, VLCC spot rates crossed $100,000/day.
A reminder that markets decide careers, not slogans.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/02/g...
February 6, 2026 at 4:44 AM
As a cadet, I was told to plan my future around gas.
25 years later, VLCC spot rates crossed $100,000/day.
A reminder that markets decide careers, not slogans.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/02/g...
25 years later, VLCC spot rates crossed $100,000/day.
A reminder that markets decide careers, not slogans.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/02/g...
Civil society mobilization reaches new scale. On Mar 29, 2026, the #GlobalSumudFlotilla will launch 100+ vessels and parallel land convoys from multiple points, with participants from 100+ countries.
A nonviolent humanitarian mission to Gaza.
A nonviolent humanitarian mission to Gaza.
February 6, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Civil society mobilization reaches new scale. On Mar 29, 2026, the #GlobalSumudFlotilla will launch 100+ vessels and parallel land convoys from multiple points, with participants from 100+ countries.
A nonviolent humanitarian mission to Gaza.
A nonviolent humanitarian mission to Gaza.
Iranian judicial authorities have cleared eight Indian seafarers for release from a detained tanker.
The vessel’s legal case remains unresolved, but crew repatriation is proceeding through diplomatic channels.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/06/i...
The vessel’s legal case remains unresolved, but crew repatriation is proceeding through diplomatic channels.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/06/i...
Iran Clears Eight Indian Seafarers for Release from Detained Tanker
Iranian judicial authorities have cleared eight Indian crew members for release from a foreign-flagged oil tanker that was previously seized by Iran and held in Iranian waters. According to officia…
thedeepdraft.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Iranian judicial authorities have cleared eight Indian seafarers for release from a detained tanker.
The vessel’s legal case remains unresolved, but crew repatriation is proceeding through diplomatic channels.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/06/i...
The vessel’s legal case remains unresolved, but crew repatriation is proceeding through diplomatic channels.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/06/i...
Cadet reported missing on M.V. EA JERSEY on 3 Feb 2026.
Vessel search conducted, DSC distress alert transmitted, MRCC Mauritius coordinating SAR.
Reporting facts only. No conclusions drawn.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/05/c...
Vessel search conducted, DSC distress alert transmitted, MRCC Mauritius coordinating SAR.
Reporting facts only. No conclusions drawn.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/05/c...
Cadet Reported Missing on M.V. EA JERSEY; MRCC Mauritius Coordinating Search.
On 3 February 2026, Cadet Sarthak Mohapatra was reported missing while sailing on board M.V. EA JERSEY, managed by Anglo-Eastern. As per the notification shared with the family, the cadet was last …
thedeepdraft.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Cadet reported missing on M.V. EA JERSEY on 3 Feb 2026.
Vessel search conducted, DSC distress alert transmitted, MRCC Mauritius coordinating SAR.
Reporting facts only. No conclusions drawn.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/05/c...
Vessel search conducted, DSC distress alert transmitted, MRCC Mauritius coordinating SAR.
Reporting facts only. No conclusions drawn.
thedeepdraft.com/2026/02/05/c...