Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels banned in Mideast oil powerhouse to undermine sanctions.

Eswatini's "shadow fleet" efforts to bypass Western sanctions have been met with opposition from the United Arab Emirates, which has denied entry to its port to any ship from the African country.

According to Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," Putin has used a "shadow fleet" to smuggle oil while concealing its origin in order to circumvent Western economic sanctions as part of his plan to sanction-proof Russia's economy.

"Since 2014, Putin has been taking measures to sanction-proof the Russian economy, anticipating potential U.S. sanctions prior to the invasion of Ukraine, according to Koffler."

"This dark fleet's vessels are often aging, do not adhere to safety standards, lack insurance, and therefore pose a threat to maritime security due to their potential to cause hazardous situations at any time," she stated.

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has declared that no services from any UAE ship agents or maritime companies should be provided to Eswatini, as they are not adhering to the circular to avoid legal responsibility.

The notice stated that the vessels registered under the flag state of Eswatini (Swaziland) will be included in the existing list of restricted flag State vessels calling UAE waters and ports, unless they are classified by a member of IACS Class or by the Emirates Classification Society.

Despite the absence of any ships registered under the Eswatini flag in 2023, as reported by ship broker Clarkson Research Services Ltd., 26 ships are currently sailing the seas under the Eswatini flag.

Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has been working with Russia to transport oil in order to bypass sanctions. According to Bloomberg, out of 18 Eswatini-flagged ships tracked in ship-tracking data, 16 had "unclear" ownership. However, several tankers were found to have transported oil produced in Russia and Iran.

According to The Economist, three Eswatini ships were sanctioned by the United States for supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and later aiding in the export of grain from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine through a briefly brokered grain corridor.

The Eswatini ship registry spokesman stated that two ships were delisted due to non-compliance with the country's administration guidelines. However, one month later, two of the ships were still flying the Eswatini flag. The spokesman argued that once a ship is delisted, it is no longer followed, and any use of the flag is considered "illegal and invalid."

In January, the Atlantic Council published a report on the expanding Russian "dark fleet," estimating it to consist of 1,400 ships operating in a "gray zone" that hinders punishment by countries.

The major worry, as pointed out by Koffler and the Atlantic Council, is the poor state of these vessels due to their illegal operation and the desire to avoid detection by authorities.

The shadow fleet, which is characterized as "aging and poorly maintained," has resulted in incidents that require legitimate vessels to pay for damages, as it lacks proper insurance.

Under the search-and-rescue convention, coastal nations are responsible for assisting distressed illegal vessels, regardless of the resources they have available.

Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, stated that the potential harm to coastal states is clear, but since the aggression does not involve military action, it is nearly impossible for a country to seek revenge for harm caused by a shadow vessel, even if it can prove the ship is transporting Russian cargo.