Michelle Wiese Bockmann
@michellewb.bsky.social
Michelle Wiese Bockmann, London-based maritime intelligence analyst & writer. Tanker tracker & subject matter expert in deceptive shipping practices, the 'dark fleet' & global trade with experience spanning 25 years across 3 continents. Views my own.
The Dark Fleet, Lifeline of Sanctioned Oil Revenues, is Under Attack.
Free to read @windward-ai.bsky.social blog that outlines the new and rapidly evolving strategy that's emerged to counter the dark fleet in Venezuela and the Black Sea
click on link:
windward.ai/blog/the-dar...
Free to read @windward-ai.bsky.social blog that outlines the new and rapidly evolving strategy that's emerged to counter the dark fleet in Venezuela and the Black Sea
click on link:
windward.ai/blog/the-dar...
The Dark Fleet Is Under Attack
U.S. seizure of Skipper and targeted Ukrainian drone strikes mark a turning point for the dark fleet, exposing hundreds of false-flag tankers carrying sanctioned oil to rising legal and operational ri...
windward.ai
December 12, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The Dark Fleet, Lifeline of Sanctioned Oil Revenues, is Under Attack.
Free to read @windward-ai.bsky.social blog that outlines the new and rapidly evolving strategy that's emerged to counter the dark fleet in Venezuela and the Black Sea
click on link:
windward.ai/blog/the-dar...
Free to read @windward-ai.bsky.social blog that outlines the new and rapidly evolving strategy that's emerged to counter the dark fleet in Venezuela and the Black Sea
click on link:
windward.ai/blog/the-dar...
the risk that false flag ships pose to coastal states now playing out in a pass-the-parcel standoff between Türkiye and Bulgaria over Kairos, which was attacked by Ukrainian drone on November 28. Turkish-flag tug "purposely" towed Kairos to Bulgaria waters and cut adrift
windward.ai/blog/ukraine...
windward.ai/blog/ukraine...
Ukraine’s Drone War on Dark Fleet Triggers Diplomatic Tensions, Heightens Black Sea Risk
Ukraine’s drone strikes on dark fleet tankers are sparking Türkiye–Bulgaria tensions and exposing escalating security and compliance risks in the Black Sea.
windward.ai
December 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
the risk that false flag ships pose to coastal states now playing out in a pass-the-parcel standoff between Türkiye and Bulgaria over Kairos, which was attacked by Ukrainian drone on November 28. Turkish-flag tug "purposely" towed Kairos to Bulgaria waters and cut adrift
windward.ai/blog/ukraine...
windward.ai/blog/ukraine...
Reposted by Michelle Wiese Bockmann
The plot thickens… latest on events in the Irish Sea
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6895675
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit jrnl.ie/6895675
Irish naval ship monitored suspicious vessel off Dublin during Zelenskyy visit
The ship had been involved in damaging an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea earlier this year.
jrnl.ie
December 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
the game of flag governance whack-a-mole continues. Gambia's government follows Comoros in cleaning up the mess left by private contractors running their ship registries. Spoiler alert: Russia hijacked them to ship sanctioned oil & deliver billions in revenue for Kremlin windward.ai/blog/gambia-...
Gambia Deletes Shadow Fleet Tankers in Second Flag Governance Crackdown
Gambia purges dozens of shadow-fleet tankers as pressure mounts on weak registries, exposing how sanctioned vessels exploit fraudulent flags to evade oversight.
windward.ai
December 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM
the game of flag governance whack-a-mole continues. Gambia's government follows Comoros in cleaning up the mess left by private contractors running their ship registries. Spoiler alert: Russia hijacked them to ship sanctioned oil & deliver billions in revenue for Kremlin windward.ai/blog/gambia-...
Greek-owned tankers have largely underpinned oil price cap-compliant Russian crude shipments since the start of the war. Not any more windward.ai/blog/greece-...
Greece-Owned Tankers Exit Russia Crude Trades Ahead of U.S. Sanctions Deadline
There’s been a drastic and immediate fall in the number of Greece-owned tankers lifting Russian crude to the lowest level since the invasion of Ukraine, amid widespread disruption ahead of a U.S. sanc...
windward.ai
November 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Greek-owned tankers have largely underpinned oil price cap-compliant Russian crude shipments since the start of the war. Not any more windward.ai/blog/greece-...
Reposted by Michelle Wiese Bockmann
A shadow fleet operating beyond flags, insurance, and basic safety is testing Europe’s security.
Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social provides key insight to BBC on why the risks are intensifying and why “the dark fleet is getting darker.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social provides key insight to BBC on why the risks are intensifying and why “the dark fleet is getting darker.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
On the front line of Europe's standoff with Russia's shadow fleet
With Europe imposing sanctions on Moscow, there has been a growing network of vessels sailing without a valid flag from Russia through European waters.
www.bbc.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:21 AM
A shadow fleet operating beyond flags, insurance, and basic safety is testing Europe’s security.
Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social provides key insight to BBC on why the risks are intensifying and why “the dark fleet is getting darker.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social provides key insight to BBC on why the risks are intensifying and why “the dark fleet is getting darker.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
well worth a read via Google translate, Jakob does great work on the shadow fleet in the Baltic
Danish pilots keep reporting sightings of little green men aboard civilian vessels coming from Russia. Unfortunately the authorities don’t want to discuss these sightings. But a veteran pilot with decades of experience is willing to talk.
Full story here:
danwatch.dk/militaerunif...
Full story here:
danwatch.dk/militaerunif...
Militæruniformer og totalt lukkethed: Øjenvidne slår alarm om russiske olieskibe
Han har sejlet i de danske farvande i over 40 år, men har aldrig set noget lignende det, der sker nu. Derfor slår han alarm i håbet om, at myndighederne vil rea
danwatch.dk
November 17, 2025 at 6:23 AM
well worth a read via Google translate, Jakob does great work on the shadow fleet in the Baltic
Reposted by Michelle Wiese Bockmann
🚢 Windward’s #ShipoftheDay: Lion 1 (IMO 9384069).
Few dark fleet stories move this fast. In just five months, Lion 1 went from new owner to sanctioned tanker. 🧵👇
Few dark fleet stories move this fast. In just five months, Lion 1 went from new owner to sanctioned tanker. 🧵👇
November 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
🚢 Windward’s #ShipoftheDay: Lion 1 (IMO 9384069).
Few dark fleet stories move this fast. In just five months, Lion 1 went from new owner to sanctioned tanker. 🧵👇
Few dark fleet stories move this fast. In just five months, Lion 1 went from new owner to sanctioned tanker. 🧵👇
Boracay was highest-profile falsely flagged tanker we've seen so far. (~62% of @windward-ai.bsky.social' s dark fleet over 20kdwt is falsely flagged or unknown). Yet despite headlines & fact Benin-flagged tanker is unregulated, insurance invalidated etc, discharged cargo at Vadinar, India 1/11
November 4, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Boracay was highest-profile falsely flagged tanker we've seen so far. (~62% of @windward-ai.bsky.social' s dark fleet over 20kdwt is falsely flagged or unknown). Yet despite headlines & fact Benin-flagged tanker is unregulated, insurance invalidated etc, discharged cargo at Vadinar, India 1/11
We're having a webinar at @windward-ai.bsky.social on Thursday to deconstruct what this means (even darker fleet as Russia mirrors Iran's tactics if this isn't a Trump TACO trade I think), & why this could be a gamechanger. no more letting Russia oil flow but stopping it. sign up below
New sanctions on Rosneft & Lukoil are reshaping global trade and energy flows faster than expected.
Oct 30, join experts from WindwardAI, Stena Bulk, Sanctions SOS & former OFAC leadership for a live briefing on dark fleets, evasion tactics, and guidance for what’s next. go.wnwd.com/sanctions-on...
Oct 30, join experts from WindwardAI, Stena Bulk, Sanctions SOS & former OFAC leadership for a live briefing on dark fleets, evasion tactics, and guidance for what’s next. go.wnwd.com/sanctions-on...
October 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
We're having a webinar at @windward-ai.bsky.social on Thursday to deconstruct what this means (even darker fleet as Russia mirrors Iran's tactics if this isn't a Trump TACO trade I think), & why this could be a gamechanger. no more letting Russia oil flow but stopping it. sign up below
A new OSINT source for those tracking sanctioned ships: FleetLeaks. fleetleaks.com/harmonization/. Joins outfits like Sketchy Boats and Dark Waters Initiative in shining a light on what's happening out there. As I always say: sunlight is the best disinfectant. Welcome to the club Fleetleaks!
Maritime Sanctions Harmonization Analysis | UK, EU, US Overlap Data
Explore sanctions harmonization across 6 jurisdictions. Interactive Venn diagrams show UK-EU overlap at 73%, vessel overlaps, and compliance patterns.
fleetleaks.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A new OSINT source for those tracking sanctioned ships: FleetLeaks. fleetleaks.com/harmonization/. Joins outfits like Sketchy Boats and Dark Waters Initiative in shining a light on what's happening out there. As I always say: sunlight is the best disinfectant. Welcome to the club Fleetleaks!
another day, another fraudulent registry and another falsely flagged ship. Welcome Botswana! sanctioned LPG tanker Meda now at a Houthi-occupied port in Yemen, fourth flag change broadcast since 26/9, that's one a week, quite impressive in all the wrong ways
October 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
another day, another fraudulent registry and another falsely flagged ship. Welcome Botswana! sanctioned LPG tanker Meda now at a Houthi-occupied port in Yemen, fourth flag change broadcast since 26/9, that's one a week, quite impressive in all the wrong ways
the mysterious tale of the Iran-flagged tankers that began simultaneously began signalling their AIS, then days later stopped. All covered in @windward-ai.bsky.social free-to-read blog windward.ai/blog/iran-fl...
Iran-Flagged Tankers Briefly End, Then Resume, AIS Dark Activity
Windward detected a rare pause in dark activity by Iran-flagged tankers before they vanished again, revealing coordinated AIS behavior across key oil routes.
windward.ai
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
the mysterious tale of the Iran-flagged tankers that began simultaneously began signalling their AIS, then days later stopped. All covered in @windward-ai.bsky.social free-to-read blog windward.ai/blog/iran-fl...
Today's @windward-ai.bsky.social #shipoftheday focuses on ever-expanding sanctions on Russia LNG and a growing 'dark fleet' of ships serving these trades. caught in the crosshairs aren't just Russia-linked vessels but those with EU connections. as always, telling the bigger story 1 ship at a time
🚢 Windward's #ShipoftheDay: Clean Vision (IMO 9655456).
Among the 51 vessels sanctioned by the UK last week were seven LNG carriers, including Clean Vision, a Malta-flagged ship now caught in the expanding sanctions net. 🧵👇
Among the 51 vessels sanctioned by the UK last week were seven LNG carriers, including Clean Vision, a Malta-flagged ship now caught in the expanding sanctions net. 🧵👇
October 21, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Today's @windward-ai.bsky.social #shipoftheday focuses on ever-expanding sanctions on Russia LNG and a growing 'dark fleet' of ships serving these trades. caught in the crosshairs aren't just Russia-linked vessels but those with EU connections. as always, telling the bigger story 1 ship at a time
The latest @windward-ai.bsky.social Ship of the Day focuses on the dark fleet antics in the waters of one of our NATO members: Türkiye. It's dangerous.
The reality isn't matching Turkiye's procedures & policies. Here's what we've found,
telling the bigger story, as always, one ship at a time.
The reality isn't matching Turkiye's procedures & policies. Here's what we've found,
telling the bigger story, as always, one ship at a time.
🚢 Windward's Ship of the Day: Satna (IMO 9253234).
A textbook case of how the dark fleet is bypassing sanctions, and even enforcement, at one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints: the Bosporus Strait.
🧵👇
A textbook case of how the dark fleet is bypassing sanctions, and even enforcement, at one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints: the Bosporus Strait.
🧵👇
October 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The latest @windward-ai.bsky.social Ship of the Day focuses on the dark fleet antics in the waters of one of our NATO members: Türkiye. It's dangerous.
The reality isn't matching Turkiye's procedures & policies. Here's what we've found,
telling the bigger story, as always, one ship at a time.
The reality isn't matching Turkiye's procedures & policies. Here's what we've found,
telling the bigger story, as always, one ship at a time.
Another day, another false flag, this time Zimbabwe. Russia is cycling quickly through African continent, adding to Benin, Sudan, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique . @windward-ai.bsky.social's white paper on false flags, fraudulent registries and the dark fleet can be found here: windward.ai/knowledge-ba...
October 17, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Another day, another false flag, this time Zimbabwe. Russia is cycling quickly through African continent, adding to Benin, Sudan, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique . @windward-ai.bsky.social's white paper on false flags, fraudulent registries and the dark fleet can be found here: windward.ai/knowledge-ba...
zombie tankers are stalking the oceans. find out about this one which I've been watching for quite a while. thinking of doing a halloween special on them!
Zombie ships are a fixture of the Iran-China oil trades.
Windward's Ship of the Day, Wood Lotus (IMO 9252979), a perfect example of the genre haunting the oceans. 🧵👇
Windward's Ship of the Day, Wood Lotus (IMO 9252979), a perfect example of the genre haunting the oceans. 🧵👇
October 10, 2025 at 8:15 AM
zombie tankers are stalking the oceans. find out about this one which I've been watching for quite a while. thinking of doing a halloween special on them!
Reposted by Michelle Wiese Bockmann
The rise of the dark fleet has evolved into a global compliance challenge. Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social, featured in @economist.com, shares how deceptive tactics went “on steroids” after 2022.
The escalating grey-zone conflict between the West and Russia is being contested on the sea as well as in the air. A rise in worrying maritime incidents is forcing NATO to step up econ.st/3ILHiM8
Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters
October 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The rise of the dark fleet has evolved into a global compliance challenge. Windward’s @michellewb.bsky.social, featured in @economist.com, shares how deceptive tactics went “on steroids” after 2022.
another geopolitical ripple in the tanker/oil markets from the FT
www.ft.com/content/b97e...
www.ft.com/content/b97e...
Vitol caught in crossfire as UAE blocks Sudan oil shipments
Halt in flow of South Sudan crude exports to Fujairah disrupts supplies to one of the world’s busiest marine fuel hubs
www.ft.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:52 AM
another geopolitical ripple in the tanker/oil markets from the FT
www.ft.com/content/b97e...
www.ft.com/content/b97e...
here's the next @windward-ai.bsky.social Ship of the Day from our series telling the stories of the dark fleet one tanker at a time....
🚢 Windward's #ShipoftheDay: Lumin (IMO 9330599).
Lumin has the infamous distinction to become the first ship tracked sailing the false flag of Maldives, making this the 13th fraudulent registry identified by Windward to be used by tankers shipping sanctioned Iranian, Venezuelan and Iranian oil. 🧵👇
Lumin has the infamous distinction to become the first ship tracked sailing the false flag of Maldives, making this the 13th fraudulent registry identified by Windward to be used by tankers shipping sanctioned Iranian, Venezuelan and Iranian oil. 🧵👇
September 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
here's the next @windward-ai.bsky.social Ship of the Day from our series telling the stories of the dark fleet one tanker at a time....
Reposted by Michelle Wiese Bockmann
More info in my latest piece here: nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2025-...
Skib med mulig forbindelse til dronesagen efterforskes i Frankrig
Et skib, der ifølge eksperter kan være interessant i dronesagen, er centrum for en mørklagt efterforskning i Frankrig efter møde med et flådefartøj.
nyheder.tv2.dk
September 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
More info in my latest piece here: nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2025-...
adding more to this Ship of the Day given Boracay's strange AIS tracking 28/29 Sept which allegedly now place it off France.
September 29, 2025 at 9:20 PM
adding more to this Ship of the Day given Boracay's strange AIS tracking 28/29 Sept which allegedly now place it off France.
Watching this with interest
DRONES OVER DENMARK: The tanker Pushpa, near Danish airports during the Sept 22 & 24 incidents, has suddenly stopped off France. It’s now anchored at Nantes. I’m trying to learn if French authorities are involved. Anyone know more?
September 29, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Watching this with interest
The @windward-ai.bksy.social "Ship of the Day" is topical as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's accuses Russia of using the dark fleet to carry out drone attacks targeting cities across Europe. Boracay changed name and flag approximately ~10 hours before drone attack on Copenhagen airport
🚢 Windward's Ship of the Day: Boracay (IMO 9332810).
This false-flagged, Russia-trading tanker made headlines after Denmark named it as one of 3 ships possibly used as a launch point for drones that closed Copenhagen’s airport last week.
🧵👇
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
This false-flagged, Russia-trading tanker made headlines after Denmark named it as one of 3 ships possibly used as a launch point for drones that closed Copenhagen’s airport last week.
🧵👇
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
September 29, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The @windward-ai.bksy.social "Ship of the Day" is topical as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's accuses Russia of using the dark fleet to carry out drone attacks targeting cities across Europe. Boracay changed name and flag approximately ~10 hours before drone attack on Copenhagen airport
follow @windward-ai.bsky.social for our Ship of the Day series which tells the story of the dark fleet one tanker at a time. today's vessel is below
🚢 Windward's Ship of the Day: Coba (IMO 9235737).
Sanctioned by the US for shipping Iranian oil, this aging VLCC with a checkered history has been detained and now sits in a repair yard on Daishan Island, near Shanghai. 🧵👇
Sanctioned by the US for shipping Iranian oil, this aging VLCC with a checkered history has been detained and now sits in a repair yard on Daishan Island, near Shanghai. 🧵👇
September 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
follow @windward-ai.bsky.social for our Ship of the Day series which tells the story of the dark fleet one tanker at a time. today's vessel is below