Russian Spoofing in the Gulf of Oman has Become More Advanced and Sophisticated - Making it Harder to Spot STS-transfers

Russian shadow fleet tankers are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to conceal sanction-busting crude flows. According to a new Lloyd’s List analysis, advanced AIS spoofing was used in the Gulf of Oman to disguise ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of Russian oil, allowing sanctioned vessels to maintain commercial activity with reduced detection risk.

The analysis highlights the case of the Sierra Leone-flagged tanker PRISMA in late February this year, which broadcast a falsified AIS position off Duqm in southern Oman while actually engaged in an STS transfer with the afromax ROZMARINE which had turned of its AIS. The deception created the impression of compliant navigation while crude was moved between tankers in a manner designed to evade sanctions scrutiny.

Transfers Masked for Asian Markets

Market intelligence cited in the analysis suggests Russian oil was passed from a U.S-sanctioned tanker to a clean-flagged vessel, which could then deliver into markets such as India and China. Meanwhile, the sanctioned ship quickly returned to Russia to reload.

By rotating sanctioned and non-sanctioned tonnage in this way, Russia sustains export volumes while shielding recipient cargoes from enforcement pressure. The method also reduces the risk of buyers facing secondary sanctions or insurance obstacles when taking delivery.

AIS Manipulation Adds to Enforcement Challenges

AIS spoofing is not new, but Lloyd’s List stresses that its application in coordinated oil trades marks a significant escalation. Rather than simple GPS jamming, these tactics simulate legitimate positions, undermining tracking tools relied upon by regulators, insurers, and port authorities.

The findings echo wider concerns already flagged by regulators. According to Reuters, Western officials estimate that Russia’s shadow fleet now numbers more than 1,100 tankers, many of them aging, uninsured, and operating under opaque ownership. These vessels increasingly rely on spoofing, re-flagging, and opaque STS transfers in remote waters to keep sanctioned crude flowing.

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