Grey fleet grows faster than enforcement can keep up

The number of ships facing sanctions has surged dramatically over the past year, with analysts reporting a steep increase in both the sanctioned fleet and related companies. According to Kpler, the count of sanctioned vessels jumped from approximately 370 in July 2020 to nearly 1,650 by July 2025. Concurrently, the number of companies affected by these sanctions has risen from around 60 to almost 500, with the most significant growth observed post-mid-2024.

Rapid Growth of the Grey Tanker Fleet

Recent statistics from BRS reveal a concerning trend regarding the grey tanker fleet, which has accelerated its expansion in 2025. The broker estimates that an additional 30 tankers are being added to this fleet each month, despite the most stringent sanctions imposed by Western authorities in years. A staggering 886 of these tankers—about 78% of the grey fleet—are now classified as sanctioned. This figure marks a dramatic increase from just 191 sanctioned vessels reported last year.

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Dimitris Ampatzidis, a risk and compliance analyst at Kpler, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced screening systems to address these developments. He highlights the importance of integrating vessel identity checks, assessing flag legitimacy, and considering regional security alerts. Ampatzidis suggests that routes involving China and India should undergo rigorous stress-testing, and that obscure supply chains should be identified and either isolated or abandoned before enforcement actions reveal their vulnerabilities.

TankerTrackers has made available a comprehensive list of sanctioned tankers, currently featuring 1,202 vessels. This list is automatically updated daily, providing stakeholders with the latest information on the sanctioned fleet.