EU Forces Board Russia-Linked Oil Tanker Suspected Of Sailing Under False Flag In Mediterranean

European naval forces boarded an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Mediterranean on Aug. 30.

The tanker, MV Sun, was boarded by personnel from the EU naval mission Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI for flag verification, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.

Kallas said the vessel was suspected of sailing under a false flag in violation of international maritime law.

She said it was the sixth suspected shadow fleet vessel boarded by EU operations in recent months.

Kallas added that illegal oil sales from such vessels were an important source of funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine and said the EU would continue efforts to stop them.

European countries are taking stronger steps to enforce sanctions against Russia, including boarding and seizing vessels suspected of being part of its shadow fleet.

The EU also allowed suspected shadow fleet vessels to be intercepted beyond the Mediterranean, including in the Indian Ocean, over a month ago.

France, Sweden, Belgium and Britain have also boarded or seized suspected shadow fleet vessels that entered their territorial waters.

Kallas said EU defence ministers would discuss further action against the shadow fleet when they meet in Ireland on Tuesday.

Operation IRINI carried out a similar operation in early August, boarding the sanctioned MV Toa Payoh to verify its flag.

According to the Italian Defence Ministry, the Italian Navy’s Thaon di Revel intercepted the vessel west of the island of Pantelleria while it was sailing from Cotonou in Benin to Istanbul.

In June, French President Emmanuel Macron said French forces intercepted the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Deliver off the coast of Sicily for sailing in violation of maritime law.

Earlier that month, British forces intercepted the Russia-linked vessel Smyrtos in the English Channel. Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers boarded the ship in an operation that lasted six hours.

Russia uses its shadow fleet to get around Western sanctions on its oil industry. These sanctions limit Moscow’s ability to charter or insure tankers unless they meet certain conditions.

The fleet uses complex ownership structures, flags of convenience and other methods to hide the origin of cargoes and avoid sanctions.

The European Union has sanctioned hundreds of ships suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

The number of sanctioned vessels is reported to be between about 600 and 673. More ships could be added under the EU’s proposed 22nd sanctions package, which could include up to 1,500 listings.

In July, the European Union approved a mechanism allowing member states to seize and sell Russian oil carried by shadow fleet vessels that try to avoid the bloc’s sanctions.

Russia has warned against such action.

President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that Russia would retaliate if European countries seized Russian commercial vessels.

He had earlier said the Russian Defence Ministry had been told to prepare a response. Putin has also called previous interceptions of Russia-linked vessels “piracy.”

Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI was launched in March 2020 to enforce a UN arms embargo on Libya.

References: themoscowtimes, kyivindependent