Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Oil Tankers Threaten Environmental Disaster as More Than Half Risk Catastrophic Spills

The Financial Times reported May 31 that more than half of the roughly 1,500 sanctioned oil tankers in the global shadow fleet are severely corroded 123. Anil Sharma, chief executive of GMS Partnership, the world's largest ship recycler, told the FT at least a third should be scrapped and likely more than half, with owners extending service life past the standard 20-year threshold to profit from elevated oil prices tied to Persian Gulf tensions 1234. Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB Tech, called the situation "a ticking time bomb," noting the vessels are uninsured, poorly maintained, and staffed below professional standards 12. The EU is considering listing approximately 20 additional shadow fleet tankers under its 21st sanctions package, with LNG carriers also targeted to prevent a parallel Russian sanctions-evasion fleet 3.