Shadow Fleet Defies PM’s Threat, Enters UK Waters
Almost 200 Russian “shadow fleet” vessels have entered UK waters since Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that British armed forces are now able to board sanctioned vessels passing through UK waters. This development has sparked concerns over the lack of action taken by the government in intercepting these vessels.
The shadow fleet, comprising tankers with obscure ownership structures, is operated by Russia to evade international sanctions imposed on its oil exports. The vessels were tracked by BBC Verify using data from MarineTraffic between 25 March and 15:00 BST on 11 May. All 184 UK-sanctioned ships identified appear on the Foreign Office sanctions list and are noted for their links to Russia.
The majority of the ships tracked (173) were oil tankers, with 10 being Liquified Natural Gas tankers and one listed as a “multipurpose offshore vessel”. MarineTraffic data is based on ships’ onboard tracker systems – known as AIS (Automatic Identification System). However, these systems can be turned off to conceal a ship’s true identity and location. The data shows many have data gaps west of Scotland and Ireland.
Government Response
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated that it is “disrupting and deterring” shadow fleet vessels without providing specific details. This lack of transparency has led some to question the effectiveness of the government’s efforts in intercepting these vessels. One former Royal Navy commander, Tom Sharpe, described the situation as “utterly confusing” and “pathetic”, stating that no boardings have been carried out.
UK Sanctions
The sanctions ban the vessels from entering UK ports and also prohibit British firms and individuals from providing financial, insurance, or brokerage services to ships that supply or deliver Russian oil. The government has said it is targeting Russia’s oil revenues to “choke off funding for Russia’s war machine” in Ukraine.
Conclusion
The entry of almost 200 Russian shadow fleet vessels into UK waters raises concerns over the lack of action taken by the government in intercepting these vessels. The Ministry of Defence’s response, while stating that it is disrupting and deterring these vessels, lacks transparency and has led some to question its effectiveness. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what further measures will be taken to address this issue.
Original Article: Russia’s shadow fleet ships defying PM’s threat and entering UK waters — BBC