Due to European sanctions and the G7 price cap, Russia is using what the media likes to call a shadow fleet of tankers, often aging, and insured by parties outside the Western world. These vessels “make use of flags of convenience and intricate ownership and management structures while employing a variety of tactics to conceal the origins of its cargo, including ship-to-ship transfers; automatic identification system blackouts; falsified positions; transmission of false data; and other deceptive or even illegal techniques.”