French Authorities Release Suspected Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker After Fine
France announced that it had released an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s sanctioned “shadow fleet” after its owner paid a fine worth millions of euros. The vessel, named the Grinch, was seized by French forces in the Mediterranean Sea on January 22nd on suspicion of shipping oil in violation of sanctions against Russia.
The Grinch had set sail from Murmansk in northern Russia and was flying under a false Comoros flag, according to French authorities, which diverted the ship to the port city of Marseille. The vessel’s captain, a 58-year-old Indian national, was handed over to judicial authorities last month after the Grinch was seized and diverted to Marseille.
Fine Paid, Ship Released
On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that the Grinch was leaving French waters “after paying several million euros and three weeks of costly immobilisation”. The company that owns the Grinch was ordered to pay a penalty for failing to justify its flag, French prosecutors and maritime authorities said in a statement.
The fine paid by the ship’s owner is seen as a significant blow to Russia’s efforts to evade sanctions through its shadow fleet. “Bypassing European sanctions comes at a price,” Barrot wrote on Twitter. “Russia will no longer be able to fund its war with impunity via a ghost fleet off our coasts.”
Shadow Fleet: A Growing Concern
The Grinch is just one of many vessels believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which is estimated to comprise over 400 ships. These ageing vessels and tankers are owned by non-transparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries and sail under flags from such countries.
Ukraine’s allies have increasingly sanctioned individual shadow tankers to deter customers from taking their oil, raising the total to 640 among the US, UK, and EU. In recent months, US forces have seized or attempted to capture at least seven vessels linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil, including one which changed its flag to a Russian one mid-operation.
The international community has vowed to crack down on Russia’s shadow fleet, with several Western nations vowing to take action against ships that violate sanctions. The release of the Grinch is seen as a significant step in this effort, and a warning to other vessels considering evading sanctions.
Original Article: France releases suspected Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker after ‘several million euro’ fine — Euronews