French Forces Board Russian-Linked Tanker
French armed forces have boarded and seized control of the oil tanker Boracay, also known as Pushpa, off the port of Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast. The vessel, stretching 244 metres, is widely reported to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to circumvent international sanctions.
According to French media, the ship is currently anchored while authorities investigate its suspected involvement in “serious offences” linked to French and European security. The action comes less than 24 hours after French officials announced a judicial investigation into the tanker.
Shadow Fleet Origins
The Boracay, which departed Primorsk in Russia on September 20 carrying an estimated 115,000 tons of oil, had transited the Baltic Sea and Danish waters before arriving off the Loire-Atlantique. Though currently sailing under the flag of Benin, the vessel has a history of changing registrations and names, previously linked to Gabon, the Marshall Islands, and Mongolia.
Security officials suspect the tanker of ties to recent drone overflights in Denmark during late September, which have prompted wider concern across Europe. It has also been the subject of U.S. and EU sanctions, with accusations of being part of a fleet of hundreds of tankers used to evade restrictions and move Russian oil in defiance of international measures.
Historical Context
Built in 2007, Boracay has been linked with Russia’s network of between 600 and 1,000 vessels that make up the shadow fleet. The fleet is known for operating under opaque ownership structures, reflagging in permissive registries, and conducting ship-to-ship transfers in international waters to disguise cargo origin.
French authorities have yet to release an official statement on the scale of the investigation or possible charges, but military personnel remain on board the vessel.
Original Article: French forces board Russian-linked tanker — Org