In News: The United States has intensified a military-led crackdown on the global “shadow fleet” transporting sanctioned crude from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
Shadow Fleet: A network of 3,000+ vessels that evade Western sanctions using:
oAIS switch-off (Automatic Identification System)
oGNSS spoofing
oFalse flags & frequent re-flagging
oOpaque ownership / shell companies
Dark Fleet:
oHighest-risk vessels
oDeliberately conceal activity (AIS-off, GNSS spoofing)
oUse covert ship-to-ship transfers
oOften directly sanctioned
Grey Fleet:
oNot necessarily sanctioned
oShows risk indicators: irregular routes, rapid ownership changes
oDesigned to appear compliant
oEmerged post Russia–Ukraine war
Regulatory Loopholes: Many vessels registered in lax-oversight jurisdictions such as:
oPanama, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Gabon, Cook Islands
oMongolia (landlocked)
Risks:
oUndermines international sanctions regime
oHigh environmental & maritime safety risks due to old, poorly insured vessels
India Link:
oGatik Ship Management (Mumbai-based) was a major transporter of Russian crude (2022–23)
oManaged a fleet worth ~USD 1.5 billion before restructuring under scrutiny
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
