Tracking illicit oil tankers from a Singapore rooftop
When Remy Osman has some free time, he doesn’t watch TV shows.
Instead, he goes to the roof of his apartment building in Singapore.
From this vantage point, Osman watches ships move through the water below—old tankers, often covered in rust, quietly transporting oil that many governments want to keep away from the market.
He films and photographs these ships and shares what he sees online.
Osman works as a food and beverage salesman during the day.
In his spare time, he follows what are known as shadow fleets: ships used to transport oil for countries under international sanctions, such as Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
“Once you start noticing them, you can’t stop,” Osman said.
“They’re hiding in plain sight.”
These shadow fleets operate on the fringes of the global shipping system.
Many of the ships are decades old, and ownership is often unclear. Their flags change frequently, and their locations often disappear from tracking maps before reappearing suddenly. Since Western sanctions became stricter after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these ships have become a major way for sanctioned illicit oil tankers to continue moving.
The U.S. has increased its efforts against these vessels.
As part of President Donald Trump’s renewed pressure on Venezuela, American officials have taken control of several sanctioned tankers, including some suspected of carrying oil linked to Nicolás Maduro, who was recently captured by U.S. forces.
Near Singapore, this hidden trade occasionally becomes visible.
The Singapore Strait is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea.
Around 100,000 ships pass through it every year, carrying about a third of all global trade. Its location also makes it a natural route for oil moving between sanctioned producers and China.
From above, the activity never really stops.
Large ships are required to send their location through automatic identification systems, or AIS.
Shadow vessels sometimes shut those systems off to avoid being noticed. However, the Singapore Strait is narrow and crowded. Turning off their signals in such a place can be risky.
“You can’t really sneak through safely,” Osman said.
“Eventually, they have to turn their trackers back on.”
Singapore’s shoreline is close to the water, so Osman can often spot ships with just his phone.
Sometimes he uses a zoom lens, and other times he just watches.
The size of the shadow fleet has grown quickly.
According to data from the analytics firm Kpler, about 3,300 vessels worldwide were involved in shadow or sanctioned oil movements by the end of 2025. Together, they accounted for roughly 6 to 7 percent of global crude oil flows. Kpler estimates that more than $100 billion worth of oil was moved through these routes last year.
Osman’s interest began by chance.
During the pandemic, he was quarantined in a hotel after arriving in Singapore. Bored, he started filming ships from his balcony and posting short clips online.
About a year ago, he noticed something different.
His followers weren’t interested in general shipping news anymore—they were asking about the tankers no one talks about.
One of his videos posted last summer received more than two million views.
Spotting a shadow tanker isn’t a guess, Osman said.
He checks tracking apps. He looks for older ships, usually flying flags from countries with limited maritime oversight. He cross-references vessel identification numbers with public sanction lists.
Even the way a ship sits in the water can be a clue.
A tanker that sits low is likely carrying oil, while one that sits high is probably empty and heading to load more.
Last week, U.S. authorities seized a Russian-flagged tanker called Bella 1 in the North Atlantic after an 18-day chase.
Officials said the vessel tried to avoid the U.S. Coast Guard while heading toward Venezuela. At one point, the crew reportedly painted a Russian flag on the hull.
Governments are increasingly concerned about the safety risks posed by these ships.
Large vessels hiding their movements in busy waterways increase the chance of accidents. In 2024, the UK launched an initiative urging countries to strengthen enforcement of maritime rules related to these fleets.
Singapore’s options are limited.
The strait is considered an international waterway, which restricts what authorities can legally do unless a ship enters a port or changes its flag.
On the day Osman spoke to reporters, he climbed back onto his rooftop with his phone in hand.
“The one I’m looking for today is called Sahara,” he said, pointing toward the water.
“It’s sanctioned. It’s flying Guinea’s flag right now.”
Later tracking data showed the ship passed through the strait that same day.
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