At around 12:30 p.m. local time on October 28, 2025, a Russian crude oil tanker, KOMANDER, ran aground in the southern section of the Suez Canal after suffering a main engine failure, briefly disrupting northbound traffic through one of the world’s most critical waterways.
According to a client advisory from Egyptian agent GAC Egypt, the vessel—measuring 274.2 meters in length, 48 meters in beam, with a gross tonnage of 78,896 and a deadweight of 150,581 DWT—was sailing southbound from the Mediterranean toward the Red Sea when it grounded at kilometer 48 of the canal. It was the 19th vessel in that day’s southbound convoy, with 18 ships ahead unaffected, but 20 northbound vessels were forced to halt temporarily.
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) immediately dispatched tugboats to refloat the vessel, and by 2:45 p.m. local time, the KOMANDER was successfully refloated. Officials confirmed there were no leaks, damage, or injuries.
Equasis and TradeWinds data show the KOMANDER (IMO 9271585) was built in 2004 by Universal Shipbuilding in Japan and is currently registered under the Russian flag in Sochi. It is managed by Hong Kong–based Yo Shui Marine Ltd., with technical management by First Skylines LLC.
The ship has changed names and flags multiple times: it sailed as Krishna 1 (Panama flag) in 2024 and Prudence (Comoros flag) in early 2025 before being reflagged to Russia and renamed KOMANDER.
Public sanctions lists indicate the vessel was blacklisted by the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ukraine for transporting Russian crude above the G7 price cap. Its latest voyage reportedly began at Murmansk, Russia, with destination “for orders” in China.
Public sanctions lists indicate the vessel was blacklisted by the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ukraine for transporting Russian crude above the G7 price cap. Its latest voyage reportedly began at Murmansk, Russia, with destination “for orders” in China.
Industry sources classify the vessel as part of the so-called “dark fleet”—a group of high-risk tankers operating outside the oversight of international classification societies and major insurers. Experts warn that in the event of a spill or collision, accountability and compensation would be nearly impossible.
Although the incident caused no serious consequences, it once again highlights the persistent risks at global maritime chokepoints. Since the 2021 Ever Given incident, the Suez Canal has experienced several brief groundings.
With Red Sea security already strained by Houthi attacks, some shipowners have diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, limiting the global impact of this latest disruption. However, analysts note that repeated incidents involving dark-fleet tankers could intensify scrutiny of Russia’s oil logistics network and create new compliance challenges for the Suez Canal Authority.
From a regulatory perspective, this event underscores a deeper paradox: sanctions intended to uphold order may be unintentionally undermining global shipping safety. The growing number of aging, uninsured, and unclassified tankers transiting key waterways such as the Suez Canal, Gibraltar Strait, and Strait of Malacca is amplifying operational risks.
As the line between geopolitics and energy security blurs, the tension between sanctions and safety is becoming increasingly evident. Excessive politicization of maritime regulation may, in fact, be turning sanctions themselves into a new source of global shipping risk.
by Xinde Marine News
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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