An investigation has gathered that a vessel conveying Russian Products organized by FERRAT NAVIGATION FZCO, a company fully Sanctioned for trading and or financing the Russian War has berthed a vessel offshore Dakar, Senegal for onward transshipment to several vessels including MT-Sea Legend which is expected to do Ship-to-Ship product transfer on April 2, 2026 for onward delivery to the Liberian and Sierra Leonean markets.
According to credible information the vessel MT-Sea Legend is getting products from the Russian Sanctioned firm Ferrat Trading FZCO which has arranged products using MT Zaphira.
As per memos of agency relationship obtained of the ongoing operation, the Liberian Government needs to put in place measures that will prevent the country from dealing with fully Sanctioned Firms.
One source indicated that whilst the US has lifted sanctions due to the ongoing IRAN Crisis, there is still a regulatory cap and the lifting of sanctions on Russian Products does not include sanctions on Firms that have financed Russian Products including Ferrat Trading FZCO that are selling to firms for onward sale to Liberian companies.
The arrival of such Diesel in Liberia for sale on the Liberian market is an indication that the country agrees that it is a direct financier of the Russian War on Ukraine.
This comes at a time when the Liberian government continues to strengthen its relationship with the US Government and as such having products from a Russian Firm on the Liberian market with the aim of profiteering puts the entire country at risk of being sanctioned.
With the vessel shipping the diesel having such records, there are calls on the US Embassy, the European Union, the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company and relevant government functionaries to follow the information about the pending arrival of the Russian product on the Liberian market.
Should such products arrive in Liberia and be sold on the market, it will be an indication that the government of Liberia fully agrees that it can trade with any sanctioned company and that it also agrees to be a financier of the Russian Ukraine war.
“As the Companies using Diesel should also be on alert that by purchasing these products, you are financing sanctioned Firms who finance the Russian War and that means your companies, employees and customers are all at risk of being sanctioned”, one source told this paper.
Further investigation suggest that the STS in Dakar is scheduled to take place on April 2, 2026, and in 5-10 days, the vessel will he expected on the Liberian waters. This means the estimated timeline for the Russian Products to be in Liberia is April 7-13, 2026.
Also, there are pieces of evidence that Ferrat Navigation FZCO is the chatterer of the MT Zaphira which is scheduled to do STS with MT Sea Legend in Dakar on April 2, 2026.
Although there is reported lifting of Russian sanctions but these sanctions are lifted under conditions completely unmet by the product onboard MT Zaphira which is been trans-shipped to MT Sea Legend.
In recent months, US authorities released a new General License overnight related to the supply of Russian origin Crude and Petroleum Products to India.
Such products are normally purchased and sold below the relevant price cap with all supporting documentary evidence as per current price cap due diligence process.
Dealings with vessels that have been sanctioned under the US rules, results to many such vessels being sanctioned by the UK and / or EU authorities which would prevent companies from dealing with these vessels.
The US price cap rules must still be applied and as a service provider companies would need to collect documentation to evidence that the relevant price caps have been respected. Companies trading Russian Products are also required to have licenses to trade: all of which are reportedly unmet.
