A shadow fleet oil tanker that has been sanctioned in the West was detained by Russian authorities in Murmansk after its crew reported unpaid wages and raised concerns over their contracts, according to the Russian Seafarers’ Union.

The vessel, named Unity, was built in 2009 and is part of the shadow fleet transporting Russian oil under shifting registries. The ship is currently showing a Lesotho flag after switching in August from Gambia.

Per databases, the tanker has changed its name and flag four times since 2021, including twice in 2024, and even briefly sailed under the Russian flag between September 2024 and February 2025.

The union reported that the crew of 20 sailors is owed nearly $90,000 in back wages as of August 13. They only received their June salaries on July 27, and those who had already signed off the vessel also remain unpaid.

The sailors are demanding compensation for sailing through a pirate danger zone and penalties for delayed payments.

The vessel’s legal ownership is under scrutiny. When its Gambia registration expired on August 5, documents showed it was transferred from Argo Tanker Group to UAE-based Petroleum United FZCO. Some crew contracts still list Argo, and the ship’s insurance was also updated at the same time.

The Russian Seafarers’ Union’s representative, Olga Ananyina, said that sailors fear their contracts may no longer be valid since the ship changed its flag and registry. They worry this could prevent them from seeking support from the vessel’s Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance if the shipowner fails to pay wages.

A port state inspection carried out in Murmansk on August 28 confirmed multiple violations, including unpaid wages, expired documents, and other deficiencies. Authorities refused to allow the tanker to depart until the issues were corrected.

The inspection also found a non-functioning Inmarsat communication system. Local reports said the total wage debt amounts to 4.9 million rubles, along with $28,500 in additional unpaid amounts.

Although AIS signals later showed the Unity as underway on September 2, observers believe the transmission may have been spoofed, and the vessel likely remained detained.

The Unity is under sanctions from the Australia, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Switzerland for its involvement in transporting Russian oil above the Western price cap. The United States sanctioned the vessel’s operator, Argo Tanker Group, in January 2025.

Separately, the Russian Seafarers’ Union reported that Argo Tanker Group, which has a listed address in Moscow and is owned by JSC ATG Holding, was cited by authorities for failing to pay more than $130,000 to the crew of another vessel, the Dignity. This tanker, which is larger at 159,426 dwt, operates under the Russian flag and carries oil from Murmansk but has not yet been sanctioned.

Reference: nv

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