SHADOW VOYAGE
A Sanctioned Tanker's Journey to Cuba
Following AKADEMIK GUBKIN's 4500-nautical-mile voyage carrying Russian crude oil to the Carribean. A 34-day long trip from loading in the Baltic to the Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer in Cuban waters.
154 Days at Anchor
AKADEMIK GUBKIN sat idle at different anchorage locations in the Gulf of Finland, Koporye Bay and Luga Bay from 30 Mar 2025 through 31 Aug 2025. The prolonged wait followed its second Cuba delivery of 2025, a holding pattern likely awaiting further orders. The vessel's inactivity concluded on 31 Aug 2025 when it sailed for Ust-Luga, a primary Russian oil export terminal in the Baltic Sea.
Loading Russian Crude Oil
On 31 Aug 2025, the vessel moved to Russia's primary Baltic export terminal to load a full cargo. Crew-inputted draft data measurements and AIS data confirm loading operations.
Transiting through the Baltic Sea
The loaded tanker departed 02 Sep 2025, threading through the Gulf of Finland and Danish waters. Satellite imagery captured the vessel transiting westward through the Baltic Sea, entering the North Sea by 06 Sep 2025.
27-Hour Drift
At 11:15 UTC on 07 Sep 2025, speed dropped dramatically to 0.5-1 knot. For the next 27 hours, AKADEMIK GUBKIN drifted with currents, before entering the Atlantic. At 14:30 UTC on 08 Sep 2025, speed began increasing again. By 15:00 UTC, the ship had returned to normal running speeds and headed southwest to conduct an Atlantic transit.
16-Day Ocean Crossing
From 09 Sep 2025 to 25 Sep 2025, the tanker crossed 4,500 nautical miles of open ocean. The vessel maintained consistent speeds, navigating from Northern European waters to the Caribbean, a route traveled by few vessels under such comprehensive sanctions.
1st Ship-to-Ship Transfer
AKADEMIK GUBKIN entered Ensenada Cristo on 25 Sep 2025 and anchored in Nipe Bay, a well known STS transfer location. Satellite imagery captured the vessel conducting a STS with Cuban-flagged tanker LOURDES on 02 Oct 2025. LOURDES later delivered the cargo to Matanzas Oil Storage Facility, docking on 30 Oct 2025.
2nd Ship-to-Ship Transfer
On 04 Oct 2025, AKADEMIK GUBKIN was imaged whilst conducting a STS transfer with EQUALITY, a Guinea-flagged tanker. The cargo was then transported to southern Cuba, where it was likely unloaded at Camilo Cienfuegos Refinery on 16 Oct 2025.
