Shipspotter Claims Russian-Linked Ships Obscuring Identities

Ships linked to Russia have been engaging in crude attempts to obscure their identities, in direct violation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.

Yörük Işık, a self-described "obsessive ship spotter" who closely monitors vessel activity along the Bosporus, has documented “dozens” of cases where ships have altered their original names and even their IMO numbers by painting over them.

Işık shared with Splash that Russian crews are increasingly indifferent to the appearance of these repainted ship names. "There are more and more homemade efforts to write names, ridiculously small, crooked, or written by people who are not familiar with Latin letters," Işık said.

On social media platform X, Işık has posted numerous images of vessels with questionable identities or backgrounds as they transit the Bosporus.

One such instance involved the Russian-flagged bulk carrier Grumant, operated by Murmansk Shipping. The vessel recently passed through the Bosporus en route to occupied Sevastopol after delivering 20,000 tonnes of stolen wheat to Tartus in Syria. During the transit, the first four letters of the ship's name were removed, and the company logo was painted over.

An IMO spokesperson told media that according to SOLAS regulation XI-1/3, ships are required to display their identification numbers permanently in a visible location on the hull or superstructure.

It is the responsibility of states, in their roles as flag, port, or coastal states, to enforce these regulations.

Additionally, IMO Resolution A.1162(32) calls on governments to take all necessary actions within their national laws to prevent and suppress all forms of maritime fraud and to cooperate fully in the exchange of information for this purpose.