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EU Sanctions Azerbaijani Oil Tankers Over Russia Trade
On July 18, the European Union (EU) adopted its eighteenth package of sanctions against Russia.
Among other measures, the EU continues to impose sanctions on ships registered in various countries around the world that it considers to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet".
"In order to further constrain the activity of vessels that are part of the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers or that contribute to Russia’s energy revenues, Decision (CFSP) 2025/1495 also adds 105 vessels to the list of vessels set out in Annex XVI to Decision 2014/512/CFSP which are banned from Member States’ ports and locks, as well as from receiving a broad range of services related to maritime transport," the European Council resolution adopted on July 18 says.
Shusha tanker
Among the 105 ships mentioned is the Azerbaijani Shusha (the Azerbaijani name for Shushi) crude oil tanker (IMO 9779941). The EU has included the ship in the "blacklist" on the grounds that it transported crude oil or petroleum products, the country of origin of which is Russia, or which are exported from Russia, using irregular and high-risk shipping practices.
The Azerbaijani tanker has been under EU sanctions since July 20, 2025.
The Shusha tanker was built in 2017 in South Korea, is owned by the Azerbaijani SA Susha Shipholdings company, and is operated by the Azerbaijani company ASCO Shipmanagement AFEZCO. The latter was founded in January 2023 and is a subsidiary of the state-owned company ASCO (Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company). The owner and operator are registered at the same address in Baku. (details)
Five months after the establishment of ASCO Shipmanagement AFEZCO, in June 2023, this tanker began sailing under the Azerbaijani flag, receiving the name Shusha. From 2017-2023 it sailed under the flag of the Marshall Islands and bore the name Aristoklis.
The Shusha is currently sailing in the Mediterranean. It left the Turkish port of Nemrut on July 14 and is scheduled to arrive at its destination on July 27. The nautical statistics of this Azerbaijani tanker show that it has recently been sailing between Turkey (Aegean port of Nemrut) and Russia (Baltic Sea port of Primorsk).
Karabakh tanker
The EU also imposed sanctions on the Azerbaijani tanker Karabakh (IMO 9810513) on July 18. The justification is the same: this ship transported crude oil or petroleum products originating in Russia or exported from Russia uirregular and high-risk shipping practices.
The Karabakh, built in Japan (2018) and designed to transport crude oil, is owned by SA Karabakh Shipholdings. The ISM manager, responsible for the technical operation of the vessel, is ASCO Shipmanagement AFEZCO (a subsidiary of ASCO), and the commercial manager, who is engaged in the organization of cargo transportation, is also SA Karabakh Shipholdings. These companies are registered at the same address in Baku. (details)
Like the Shusha, the Karabakh began flying the Azerbaijani flag in June 2023 and received its current name. Between 2018 and 2023, it sailed under the Liberian flag and bore the name Sperchios.
Statistics show the Karabakh has recently been transporting cargo between Turkey (Nemrut) and Russia (Primorsk). The tanker last left Primorsk on July 8 and yesterday, it dropped anchor near Nemrut.
Zangazur tanker
The Shusha and Karabakh are not the first ships flying the Azerbaijani flag to appear on the EU "blacklist". In a resolution adopted on May 20 of this year, the European Council imposed similar sanctions on the crude oil tanker Zangazur. (IMO 9420617).
Built in Japan (2010), it initially sailed under the Panamanian flag and bore the name Shah Deniz, then began to sail under the Maltese flag. In 2018-2021 it was called Zarifa Aliyeva, and in 2021-2023 it was called Silver. Since the fall of 2023, the ship has been sailing under the Azerbaijani flag under the name Zangazur.
The owner of the ship is the Azerbaijani SA Zangazur Shipholdings, the technical manager is again ASCO Shipmanagement AFEZCO, and the commercial manager is also the Azerbaijani SA Maritime AFEZCO. The latter is a joint venture between ASCO and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR. The owner and technical and commercial managers of the Zangazur are registered at the same address in Baku and, as we can see, are affiliated with the state company ASCO (Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company). (details)
Like the Shusha and Karabakh, the Zangazur has recently been sailing between the Turkish port of Nemrut and the Russian city of Primorsk. According to the latest information, the Zangazur has been anchored in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey since May 27.
The Zangazur was included in the UK’s "blacklist", along with many other ships, on May 9, 2025, prior to the EU sanctioning. The justification was that this ship is used to transport Russian-origin oil.
“Russia’s shadow fleet will be hit with the largest ever sanctions package today, ramping up pressure on Putin and protecting UK and European critical national infrastructure,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on May 9.
As part of the same package, the UK has also imposed sanctions on five Azerbaijani individuals. The British government says they are or have been involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia by carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance to the Government of Russia, namely the Russian energy sector.
Six ASCO Shipmanagement tankers
ASCO Shipmanagement’s website states that the company's fleet consists of six ships, four of which are crude oil tankers and two oil/chemical tankers.
Although the names and IMO numbers of the ships are not indicated on this website, data can be found on magicport.ai. Accordingly, ASCO Shipmanagement is the technical manager (operator) not only of the ships Shusha, Karabakh and Zangazur, but also of the tankers Khankendi, Azerbaijan and Baku.
The last two ships are small-capacity vessels, while the Khankendi (the Azerbaijani name for Stepanakert) is a tanker of the size (250x44 m) of the Shusha and Karabakh. (IMO 9867621)
Built in South Korea (2010), this ship sailed under the flag of the Marshall Islands from 2020 to 2024 and was named Aristofanis. Since August 2024, it has been under the flag of Azerbaijan. The owner of the ship is the Azerbaijani SA Leader Shipholdings AFEZCO, and the commercial manager is SA Maritime AFEZCO. All these companies are registered at the same address in Baku and are affiliated with the state-owned ASCO (Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company). (details)
The Khankendi, like the Shusha and Karabakh, has recently been sailing mainly between the port of Nemrut and the city of Primorsk. The tanker last left Nemrut on July 2 and today arrived at the Russian port of Ust Luga on the Baltic Sea.
According to magicport.ai, this Azerbaijani ship is at risk of sanctions (by whom it is not known) like the Shusha, Karabakh, and Zangazur. If true, it means that four of the six ships of ASCO Shipmanagement have problems with countries that have adopted an anti-Russian stance, which at first glance should at least complicate the lives of the owners and operators of these ships.
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