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On June 3, 2023, the cargo vessel Mikhail Nenashev was heading north in the Black Sea towards the Kerch Strait, known for transporting grain from occupied eastern Ukraine via the sanctioned Port of Sevastopol in Crimea. According to AIS data, the vessel’s destination was the Port of Kavkaz in Russia, where it waited in anchorage from June 3 to 16.

However, on June 16, the Mikhail Nenashev disappeared from ship monitoring services, creating an AIS gap. Deliberately disabling AIS without legitimate cause is considered a deceptive shipping practice commonly used to evade sanctions or engage in illicit activities.

Satellite imagery from nearby Russian ports and its last known coordinates in the Kerch Strait did not provide any information about the ship’s whereabouts. However, a vessel with similar dimensions and features as the Mikhail Nenashev appeared at the Avlita grain terminal in Sevastopol, just a day’s sailing time away.

Between June 21 and 24, the vessel was seen being loaded with grain before disappearing from satellite images. On June 26, the Mikhail Nenashev’s AIS signal reappeared south of the Kerch Strait as it headed back into the Black Sea and was captured on film passing through the Bosphorus in Turkey on June 28.

AIS data showed that the Mikhail Nenashev crossed the Mediterranean, entered the Suez Canal, and moved through the Red Sea towards the Persian Gulf. Finally, on July 20, it arrived at its destination at the port of Bandar Khomeni in southern Iran.

Satellite imagery confirmed that the vessel was docked at Bandar Khomeni with its hatches open and grain visible. Comparison of imagery with its previous docking in Sevastopol suggested it was the same ship. Changes in draught indicated that part of the cargo had been offloaded, supported by trucks lined up beside the vessel and spilled grain along the pier.

Investigations have revealed that grain is being exported from sanctioned Crimea, in contravention of US, EU, and UK sanctions. The identity of at least 10 ships that have visited Sevastopol to load grain has been uncovered, and some vessels have been secretly delivering grain to ports like Syria, Turkey, and Iran.

Further inquiries were made regarding the Mikhail Nenashev’s journey and cargo, but no responses were received from Crane Marine Contractor, the ports in Sevastopol and Bandar Khomeini, or the Avlita grain terminal.

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