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12/1/2023

Treasury Imposes Additional Price Cap-Related Sanctions | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Imposes Additional Price Cap-Related Sanctions
December 1, 2023

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasuryʼs O ice of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is imposing sanctions on three entities and identifying as blocked property
three vessels that used Price Cap Coalition services while carrying Russian crude oil above the
Coalition-agreed price cap. These sanctions build on Treasuryʼs previous actions in October
and November of this year and represent once again Treasuryʼs commitment, alongside its
Coalition partners, to responsibly reduce oil revenues that the Russian government uses to
fund its war against Ukraine.
“Enforcement of the price cap on Russian oil is a top priority for the United States and our
Coalition partners,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “By targeting these
companies and their ships, we are upholding the dual goals of the price cap by restricting
Russiaʼs profits from oil while promoting stable global energy markets.”

T HE PRICE CAP
The United States is part of an international coalition of countries (the Price Cap Coalition),
including the G7, the European Union, and Australia, that have agreed to prohibit the import
of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian Federation origin. These countries, home to
many best-in-class financial and professional services, have also agreed to restrict a broad
range of services related to the maritime transport of crude oil and petroleum products of
Russian Federation origin—unless that oil is bought and sold at or below the specific price
caps established by the Coalition or is authorized by a license. This policy is known as the
“price cap.” The price cap is intended to maintain a reliable supply of crude oil and petroleum
products to the global market while reducing the revenues the Russian Federation earns from
oil a er its own war of choice against Ukraine inflated global energy prices.
On October 12, 2023, the Price Cap Coalition published a Coalition Advisory for the Maritime
Oil Industry and Related Sectors (“the Advisory”). The Advisory, which is directed at both
government and private sector actors involved in the maritime trade of crude oil and refined
petroleum products, provides recommendations concerning specific best practices and
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Treasury Imposes Additional Price Cap-Related Sanctions | U.S. Department of the Treasury

reflects our commitment to promoting responsible practices in the industry, preventing and
disrupting sanctioned trade, and enhancing compliance with the price cap.
OFAC previously published an Alert on Possible Evasion of the Russian Oil Price Cap on April 17,
2023 and Guidance on Implementation of the Price Cap Policy for Crude Oil and Petroleum
Products of Russian Federation Origin on February 3, 2023.

VESSELS CARRYING RUSSIAN OIL PRICED AB OVE T HE
PRICE CAP
The crude oil price cap took e ect in December 2022 with a cap on Russian crude oil at $60 per
barrel. The vessels NS Champion, Viktor Bakaev, and HS Atlantica carried Russian Urals crude
oil priced above $70 per barrel a er the crude oil price cap took e ect. The NS Champion,

Viktor Bakaev, and HS Atlantica used U.S.-person services while transporting the Russianorigin crude oil.
United Arab Emirates-based (UAE-based) Sterling Shipping Incorporated is the registered
owner of the NS Champion.
UAE-based Streymoy Shipping Limited is the registered owner of the Viktor Bakaev.
Liberia-based HS Atlantica Limited is the registered owner of the HS Atlantica.
Sterling Shipping Incorporated, Streymoy Shipping Limited, and HS Atlantica Limited were
designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024 for operating or having operated in the marine
sector of the Russian Federation economy. OFAC also identified the NS Champion, Viktor

Bakaev, and HS Atlantica as property in which Sterling Shipping Incorporated, Streymoy
Shipping Limited, and HS Atlantica Limited, respectively, have an interest.

SANCT IONS IMPLICAT IONS
As a result of todayʼs action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that
are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must
be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent
or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or
within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of
designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific
license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution

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Treasury Imposes Additional Price Cap-Related Sanctions | U.S. Department of the Treasury

or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and
the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFACʼs ability to designate
and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the
SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring
about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking
removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFACʼs Frequently Asked
Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal
from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.
For identifying information on the entities sanctioned and vessels identified today, click here.
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