Spare parts for Finnish engines have found their way to Russian tankers

Finnish Wartsila left Russia in 2022 and is trying to stop the supply of spare parts to its marine engines bypassing sanctions. However, Russian companies have found purchasing options.

"Near the center of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, there is a building from which in Spare parts suitable for engines of the Finnish company Wartsila are sent to Russia for more than a million euros. LLC "Arnica-Trade is just one of the companies that has helped Russia in recent years. Russia has apparently established an extensive network for the procurement of spare parts for Wartsila engines around the world. There are dozens of partner companies," Yle writes.

The Finnish company is one of the largest manufacturers of engines that are used on many vessels of Russian companies, and left Russia in 2022. And also forbade customers to resell their products in Russia. However, through third countries, spare parts continue to "bypass" sanctions.

"Russia purchased products worth about six million euros in 2023-2025, which partially included Wartsila spare parts," the Finnish publication writes with reference to its investigation and import customs clearance data.

According to Yle, spare parts also fell on sanctioned tankers that transport Russian oil. At least 30 of them are powered by engines of the Finnish company.

Arnika-Trade is not a client of Wartsila and receives spare parts through China, the United Arab Emirates, India and even the Pacific island nation of Maldives, Yle found.

Arnika-Trade informed the customs authorities that Wartsila spare parts are intended for servicing the engines of Russian fishing and passenger vessels. However, many spare parts are suitable for Wartsila engines that are used by tankers.

Yle writes that dozens of companies are clients of Arnica-Trade.

"The largest companies that have purchased Wartsil spare parts are engaged in ship repair and maintenance. Among their clients — large Russian shipyards and shipbuilding companies. One of the significant customers are the shipyards of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg," the publication continues.

The customs information mentioned the name of the vessel or its identification number (IMO).

"The investigation revealed almost ten such vessels. They support Russia's oil and natural gas trade by transporting oil and working in Russian oil fields," Yle writes.

"Unfortunately, there are operators on the market who circumvent sanctions. This is a common problem for all companies operating internationally," Nora Steiner—Forsberg, Vice President for Corporate and Legal Affairs at Wartsil, told the publication.