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2/23/2024

U.S. Treasury Designates Russian State-Owned Sovcomflot, Russia’s Largest Shipping Company | U.S. Department of …

U.S. Treasury Designates Russian State-Owned Sovcomflot,
Russia’s Largest Shipping Company
February 23, 2024

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasuryʼs O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) is taking action to responsibly reduce Russiaʼs revenue from oil sales by targeting
Joint Stock Company Sovcomflot (Sovcomflot), Russiaʼs state-owned shipping company
and fleet operator. In addition to designating Sovcomflot, OFAC is identifying 14 crude oil
tankers as property in which Sovcomflot has an interest.
“The price cap on Russian oil continues to serve its twin goals of limiting Kremlin profits while
promoting stable energy markets,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo.
“Today, we take the next step by targeting Russiaʼs largest state-owned shipping company
and fleet operator, dealing a huge blow to their shadow operations. We are entering the next
phase of increasing Russiaʼs costs in a responsible manner to mitigate risks.”
Concurrent with the designation of Sovcomflot, OFAC is also issuing a general license
authorizing the o loading of crude oil (or other cargo) from these 14 vessels for a period of
45 days. In addition, OFAC is issuing a general license authorizing transactions with all other
Sovcomflot-owned vessels at this time. Nothing in these general licenses changes any of the
restrictions imposed by the price cap sanctions regime.
Sovcomflot was designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for operating or having
operated in the marine sector of the Russian Federation economy and for being owned or
controlled by, or having acted for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the
Russian Federation. Sovcomflot has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
and the United Kingdom (UK) and is under certain European Union (EU) restrictions.
A new Treasury analysis released today found that the United Statesʼ increased sanctions
enforcement is forcing Russia to sell oil at a steeper discount and limiting their revenue.
Putinʼs oil czar has linked Russiaʼs further loss of revenue to the actions reflected in the
second phase of the price cap.

T HE PRICE CAP
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2121

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U.S. Treasury Designates Russian State-Owned Sovcomflot, Russia’s Largest Shipping Company | U.S. Department of …

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 (“Russian oil”). 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 Russian oil—unless that
Russian 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 February 1, 2024, the Price Cap Coalition published an Oil Price Cap (OPC) Compliance and
Enforcement Alert

(the “Alert”). The Alert, which is directed at both government and

industry stakeholders, provides examples of specific evasion methods to improve compliance
measures, and provides avenues to report suspected oil price cap breaches to members of the
Price Cap Coalition.
On December 20, 2023, OFAC, in coordination with the Price Cap Coalition

, updated

its Guidance on Implementation of the Price Cap Policy for Crude Oil and Petroleum Products
of Russian Federation Origin, to strengthen the attestation and recordkeeping processes for
certain covered service providers and reduce opportunities for bad actors to disguise Russian
oil purchased above the cap.
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 Russian oil, provides
recommendations concerning specific best practices and 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.

SOVCOMF LOT VESSELS
In addition to designating Sovcomflot, OFAC is identifying 14 crude oil tankers as property in
which Sovcomflot has an interest. These vessels, all of which are beneficially owned by
Sovcomflot, are:
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2/23/2024

U.S. Treasury Designates Russian State-Owned Sovcomflot, Russia’s Largest Shipping Company | U.S. Department of …

1. ANATOLY KOLODKIN (IMO 9610808)
2. NS ANTARCTIC (IMO 9413559)
3. NS LION (IMO 9339313)
4. NS CONSUL (IMO 9341093)
5. NS BURGAS (IMO 9411020)
6. NS CAPTAIN (IMO 9341067)
7. NS COLUMBUS (IMO 9312884)
8. SAKHALIN ISLAND (IMO 9249128)
9. NEVSKIY PROSPECT (IMO 9256054)
10. GEORGY MASLOV (IMO 9610793)
11. LITEYNY PROSPECT (IMO 9256078)
12. KRYMSK (IMO 9270529)
13. NS CREATION (IMO 9312896)
14. NS BRAVO (IMO 9412359)

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
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.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2121

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U.S. Treasury Designates Russian State-Owned Sovcomflot, Russia’s Largest Shipping Company | U.S. Department of …

For identifying information on the entity sanctioned and the vessels identified today, click
here.

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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2121

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