GATIK, a company close to the dark fleet
The Indian company GATIK is a recent example of how vessels from the dark fleet can be spotted.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this obscure company has grown from 2 to 58 tankers. It joins the exclusive club of companies owning more than 50 tankers worldwide.
However, according to the international maritime database EQUASIS, only 4 remain. St. Kitts and Nevis de-registered 36 of its vessels after it emerged that Gatik was using them to transport sanctioned Russian oil.
The remaining 38 vessels were re-registered under the Gabonese flag. They have also been decommissioned and are now classified in the Indian Ship Register (IRS).
Gatik has been removed from the list of companies for which the American Club provided insurance.
It is highly likely that the remaining vessels in the fleet are now in the hands of a wide range of companies whose ownership structure must be very nebulous. This virtually uncontrolled fleet also represents a growing danger to navigation and the marine environment.
Gatik is part of the Buena Vista company, but no further answers were given. Indian officials involved in the purchase of Russian crude, however, told the Financial Times that they deal directly with Russian oil giant Rosneft.
