On Friday, the Norwegian news outlet NRK published a major investigation into Ro Marine, a “last resort” P&I Club that primarily insures the Dark Fleet. Deep Blue Intelligence (DBI), by Pole Star Global in partnership with Blackstone Compliance Services, is proud to have supported NRK’s investigation from the outset, providing key insights and detailed analysis on the Dark Fleet.
While Ro Marine has been covered before, NRK’s report is by far the most in-depth. This report details how a failed joint venture between two reputable P&I clubs was taken over and repurposed to provide coverage for the Dark Fleet. Ro Marine is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly issuing fraudulent insurance.
Essential reading: Pole Star Global, in partnership with Blackstone Compliance Services, distils the key highlights from NRK’s report below.
To learn more, you can access the full report here: NRK Investigation.
Inside Ro Marine: The Vessels Covered
Ro Marine was a major enabler of illicit maritime operations. The company insures 135 tankers tracked by Pole Star Global and Blackstone Compliance Services, with all but eight connected to the Dark Fleet. Together, these vessels total 5.2 million tonnes, representing nearly 10% of the Dark Fleet.
Ro Marine’s influence is matched only by Ingosstrakh, Russia’s state-owned insurer, and Maritime Mutual, another high-risk P&I club with a history of serious issues and substantial negative news coverage.
Breakdown of vessels insured by Ro Marine:
- 105 (77%) are linked to Russia (via the Russian flag, Sovcomflot, or DBI’s Russian fleet list).
- 25 (18%) are identified by DBI as part of Iran’s sanctioned fleet.
- 2 have ties to Syria.
Ro Marine Steps In as Major Insurer for High-Risk Russian Tankers
Almost all the tankers carrying Russian crude registered in Seychelles and operated by Azerbaijani companies are insured by Ro Marine. Many of these ships were previously covered by Continental P&I Club, another insurer linked to high-risk fleets.
Continental collapsed after it became clear that it could not cover the costs of a relatively minor accident involving one of these vessels. When that happened, Ro Marine stepped in and took over their business. This incident was later highlighted as a case study in Pole Star Global’s Toxic Tonnage report. To access the full report, complete the form below.
Ro Marine also insured nearly the entire fleet run by Coral Energy/Gatik, a key operator frequently targeted by sanctions. In addition, the company provided coverage for part of the fleet managed by Radiating World, a major Russian operator already under U.K. and E.U. sanctions for evading the oil price cap.
Ro Marine’s reach extends beyond crude oil. In early 2024, Russia attempted to export LNG from its sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. To conceal its involvement, Novatek transferred four LNG carriers to a UAE shell company, White Fox Shipmanagement, all of which were also insured by Ro Marine.
Ro Marine’s Reach Extends Beyond Russia: Iran-Linked Vessels Covered
Ro Marine’s operations extend beyond Russia-related sanctions evasion. The P&I club insured ten vessels linked to Hossein Shemkhani, the son of an IRGC admiral sanctioned by the U.S., E.U. and U.K. for trafficking Iranian and Russian crude, as well as weapons.
In addition, Ro Marine covered a significant portion of the “Kunlun Legacy” fleet, a group of tankers historically tied to Kunlun Holding Company and involved in Iran-related sanctions evasion. Kunlun Holding itself is under secondary sanctions for its dealings with the IRGC.
How to Protect Yourself from Uninsured and High-Risk Ships
This article highlights why it is crucial to know not just who owns or operates a vessel, but also whether it is properly insured.
The E.U. has begun cracking down on uninsured ships passing through its waters. This means that, at a minimum, anyone dealing with these vessels could face legal trouble if they are detained. At worst, they might be liable for multimillion-pound oil spill cleanups or even subject to criminal investigations. Fortunately, Pole Star Global’s PurpleTRAC and Deep Blue Intelligence (DBI) are uniquely positioned to help safeguard you against these risks.
- PurpleTRAC Screening: PurpleTRAC screens not only the vessel and its ownership, but also its flag and P&I club, to ensure there is no direct sanctions nexus.
- Dark Fleet Mapping:
- DBI has comprehensively mapped the Dark Fleet, identifying 96–97% of the vessels sanctioned by OFAC before their designation.
- DBI clients are not only able to screen against the Dark Fleet, but also have instantaneous access to narrative information and evidence relating to these vessels’ ownership and activity.
- High-Risk P&I Clubs:
- Full subscribers to DBI now have access to a list of high-risk P&I clubs and vessels insured, or suspected of being insured, by these companies.
- This includes not only vessels insured by Ro Marine, but also other high-risk clubs located in Russia and Iran, fraudulent insurers, and high-risk enablers within the Dark Fleet.
- Compliance Training: DBI has trained over 1,000 compliance officers to spot sanctions evasion, including training on high-risk P&I clubs such as Ro Marine.
Want to learn more? Reach out to our team today and discover how we can help: