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One shadow tanker underway again, the other adrift
The 'Progress', one of the two tankers linked to the Russian ghost fleet, which had issued a distress signal last week while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, appeared to have resumed its course, while the second one, the 'Chariot Bay', has not moved for three days. The 'Progress', carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil, had changed its status to NUC on Jan 21, shortly after passing Algiers. It moved away from the Algerian coast and then stopped sharing its geolocation. In recent days, it had been drifting at sea, possibly undergoing repairs. On Jan 26, the tanker was located north of Tunisia, re-shared its position and appeared to have resumed its course towards Port Said, sailing under power at a normal speed of 12 knots with an ETA as of Jan 31. The second tanker, the 'Chariot Tide' (IMO: 9323376). reported itself NUC on Jan 22, shortly after passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. The vessel, which was carrying approximately 300,000 barrels of crude oil, was taken in tow by the tug 'VB Spartel' on the afternoon of Jan 23, after being stuck for about 27 hours. On Jan 26, the 'Chariot Tide' was still in the same area between Spain and Morocco. The tug had moved it eastwards, thus shifting the problem into international waters and the Spanish SAR zone. The ship was adrift at a speed of 1.7 knots in pos. 36° 08' N 002° 59' W.
Disabled tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil
The 'Progress', carrying a cargo of approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil, was NUC in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the Algerian coast, after it encountered a navigational incident en route to Port Said. It had left the Russian port of Primorsk, near St. Petersburg, on Jan 8, 2026. The tanker was sailing fully loaded when abnormal behaviour was detected after it passed off the coast of Algiers on the afternoon of Jan 21 due to a mechanical failure of the 'Progress', which belongs to the Russian shadow fleet, used by Moscow to export its oil while circumventing international sanctions imposed since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. In total, 598 ships are currently suspected of being part of the Russian “ghost fleet” and are subject to sanctions by the European Union, in an effort to restrict Moscow’s energy export capabilities while limiting environmental and security risks at sea.
Russian shadow tanker NUC and adrift in Alboran Sea
The 'Progress', which is under sanction for its role in transporting Russian oil, appeared to have run into trouble off the coast of Algeria and was drifting in the Mediterranean Sea. The tanker had left Primorsk on Jan 8, 2026, and was sailing east along the North African coast toward the Suez Canal, carrying a cargo of about 730,000 barrels of Russia’s flagship Urals crude. After passing Algiers on the afternoon of Jan 21, the vessel abruptly turned north and left the shipping lanes. On the early morning of Jan 22, its navigation status changed to “Not under command,” and its speed fell to about one knot. On Jan 24, the 'Progress' was continuing to drift eastward at a speed of about one knot in pos 38° 39' N 006° 21' E. On Jan 26 it was drifting off Annaba (Lat. 38.0450 Lng. 7.3833) The manager of the 'Progress' is the Legacy Marine LLC, based in St. Petersburg, Russia. The tanker is under sanctions by the European Union and the United Kingdom for its involvement in the transportation of Russian oil. The 19-year-old vessel has changed its name twice since being placed on the sanctions lists, recently transferred to the Russian flag and was entered into the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping in Nov 2025.
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