EU Naval Force Boards Oil Tanker Suspected of Belonging to Russian Shadow Fleet
The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation Irini (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) boarded an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia‘s sanctions-busting shadow fleet on Sunday. The ship, identified as the MV SUN, is believed to be sailing under a false flag, according to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
This marks the sixth suspected shadow fleet vessel boarded by EUNAVFOR MED IRINI in recent months. The operation is part of the EU’s efforts to curb illegal oil sales from Russia, which fund Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine. “Illegal oil sales from shadow fleet ships are a critical lifeline for Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Kallas said, “and we’ll continue to cut them off.”
The MV SUN boarding is seen as a signal of the EU’s determination to crack down on illegal oil exports that support Russia‘s war efforts. The operation will be closely watched by observers, who have been critical of the EU’s response to date.
Operation Irini’s Mandate and History
Operation Irini was launched in March 2020 to enforce a U.N. arms embargo on Libya due to the Second Libyan Civil War. Initially aimed at countering illegal arms and human trafficking, as well as targeting oil smuggling, the operation’s tasks have been extended to include safeguarding the EU’s interests in the Mediterranean.
Under Article 110 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, warships may inspect vessels reasonably suspected of being stateless or fraudulently flagged. Operation Irini’s mandate is not to seize vessels but primarily to board and inspect ships, particularly for flag verification and compliance checks under international maritime law.
EU’s Efforts to Combat Russian Shadow Fleet
In July, the bloc gave the go-ahead to carry out interceptions of suspected shadow fleet vessels both in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Indian Ocean, empowering the naval anti-piracy operation ATALANTA, which operates off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean.
The EU has also given national authorities the green light to intercept Russian shadow fleet ships. In recent months, French forces have captured four suspected shadow-fleet tankers, while British forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet ship Smyrtos in the English Channel.
Critics Say More Needs to Be Done
Svitlana Romanko, founder of the campaign group Razom We Stand, said boarding the MV SUN is “a welcome tiny step but a mere six inspections with no real violations enforcement or confiscations, against a fleet where the EU itself has sanctioned over 670 vessels, is not a crackdown.” She emphasized that every day these ships sail unseized and unfined results in more cash flowing straight into Russia‘s war chest.
The boarding of the MV SUN highlights the ongoing efforts by the EU to combat Russian shadow fleet activities. As the bloc continues to take action against illegal oil exports, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to significantly impact Moscow’s ability to fund its aggression in Ukraine.
Original Article: European forces seize sixth oil tanker linked to “Russian shadow fleet” — Yahoo