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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

⚓️ Follow @windward-ai.bsky.social for more #ShipoftheDay insights into the shadow fleet, sanctions evasion, and deceptive shipping practices.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

13. ⚠️ Windward analysis shows this pattern of sanctioned, non-ice class tankers operating in the Arctic is escalating navigational, environmental & compliance risks across the region.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

12. On Sept 24, Rosatom (which administers the Northern Sea Route) announced early ice formation, especially in the eastern sector, and the ending of the summer-autumn navigation season for non-ice class ships. nsr.rosatom.ru/en/company/n...

news

nsr.rosatom.ru

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

11. There have been numerous instances of dark activity, most recently during the NSR transit and while loitering off Japan.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

10. The tanker has been flagged with Liberia, Gabon, Barbados, Comoros and lastly Oman with management companies incorporated in the UAE.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

9. Despite being beneficially owned by Sovcomflot, Windward shows Lynx has repeatedly changed its name, flag, owner, and ISM manager since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

8. After arriving in the region mid-September, Lynx spent two weeks loitering off northern Japan.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

7. It was followed by another non-ice class suezmax, Danshui (IMO 9589750), also sanctioned and falsely flagged under the fraudulent registry of Benin. Both are likely bound for China.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

6. AIS data confirms the tanker was stuck between Sept 6–9 near 72°N before being freed and proceeding slowly.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

5. Sanctioned by the 🇪🇺 EU, 🇬🇧 UK, and 🇺🇸 US, Lynx was carrying 1 million barrels of oil loaded at Murmansk in early September when it became trapped in the East Siberian Sea.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

4. Normally, only ice-classed vessels can transit the Northern Sea Route. But the first permits for non-ice class ships were issued in Sept 2023.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

3. ❄️ Ice-classed vessels are built with reinforced hulls, winterised systems, and higher propulsion power to withstand ice pressure. Non-ice class ships like Lynx risk major damage and ecological disaster. www.highnorthnews.com/en/russia-se...

Russia Sends Oil Tanker Without Ice Protection Through Arctic For First Time

In a sign of things to come Russia has sent the first non-ice class Aframax oil tanker into the Arctic. Hampered by Western sanctions a desperate Russia has decided to forgo long standing practices re...

www.highnorthnews.com

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

2. The Barent Observer reported The Lynx, an Oman-flagged suezmax, was one of at least four tankers and one LNG carrier that entered Arctic waters this summer without ice class certification. www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/moscow-...

Moscow pushes Arctic shipping towards disaster

Russian authorities are green-lighting ships without ice-class on the Northern Sea Route. This month, it could have ended in catastrophe.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 18h

🚢 Windward's Ship of the Day: Lynx (IMO 9412347).

This Russia-controlled tanker made headlines after getting stuck in Arctic sea ice — a stark warning about the growing risks of non-ice class ships transiting the Northern Sea Route. 🧵👇

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 19h

The rise of the dark fleet has evolved into a global compliance challenge. Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social, featured in @economist.com, shares how deceptive tactics went “on steroids” after 2022.

The Economist @economist.com · 2d

The escalating grey-zone conflict between the West and Russia is being contested on the sea as well as in the air. A rise in worrying maritime incidents is forcing NATO to step up econ.st/3ILHiM8

Photo: Reuters

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 3d

Tariffs are shaking up global freight.

Forwarders that combine intelligence, flexibility, and proactive communication will win in this new reality. Build tariff resilience: windward.ai/blog/tariffs...

Tariffs at Sea: What Freight Forwarders Need to Know

Learn how freight forwarders can stay resilient to tariff shifts with smart planning, compliance, maritime intelligence, and customer communication.

windward.ai

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 6d

Windward is among the Top 50 most innovative SMEs in the maritime industry in the Thetius Top 150 ranking.

Chosen from nearly 5,000 organizations, this recognition reflects our role in shaping the future of maritime through technology and innovation.

Get the guide: thetius.com/thetius-top-...

Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

⚓️ Follow @windward-ai.bsky.social for more #ShipoftheDay insights into the shadow fleet, sanctions evasion, and deceptive shipping practices.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

10. Though broadcasting Maldives, the IMO still lists Lumin’s flag as “unknown” further underscoring the legal and regulatory vacuum in which these tankers operate as the dark fleet exploits flag-hopping and other regulatory loopholes to continue trading.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

9. In the past month, Lumin repeatedly lost AIS while loading at Kozmino, Russia, then delivered crude to Lanshan, China.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

8. Windward also found Lumin using a fraudulent MMSI number (455380000), a prefix assigned to Cambodia. Unlike IMO numbers, MMSIs change with flags.
windward.ai/glossary/wha...

Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)

Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is a unique, 9-digit number assigned to a digital selective calling (DSC) radio.

windward.ai

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

7. 📈 False-flagged tankers & gas carriers surged by 65% from Jan–Aug 2025, per Windward analysis, as sanctions on Russia & Iran tightened and permissive registries came under pressure by Western governments.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

6. 🌍 IMO data shows fraudulent registries used in dark fleet trades now include Angola, Aruba, Benin, Curaçao, Eswatini, Guinea, Guyana, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Maldives, Timor Leste & St Maarten.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

5. That means any insurance, safety, or seaworthiness certificates are invalid. The false flag leaves Lumin effectively flagless and lawless, even as it sails China–Russia routes.

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Windward @windward-ai.bsky.social · 8d

4. 🇲🇻 The Maldives has 48 ships in its domestic registry, but none internationally. Lumin is 21x larger than the biggest Maldivian coastal tanker.

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