EU Stops Sixth Shadow Fleet Tanker Suspected of False Flag
The European Union has stopped its sixth tanker suspected of operating under a false flag for the shadow fleet serving the Russian oil industry. The inspection was carried out by forces from the Italian patrol boat ITS Paolo Thaon di Revel, who boarded the vessel using helicopters and launches.
According to Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, this is the sixth tanker stopped by EUNAVFOR IRINI for verification since its mandate was extended earlier this year. The tanker, named Sun, claims registry in Cameroon, established in 2026, but was listed in 2025 as having sailed under false flags from Timor-Leste and Benin, according to the Equasis database.
Shadow Fleet Operations Under Scrutiny
The crude oil tanker, with a deadweight tonnage of 159,186 and built in 2005, is owned and managed from Turkey and holds Russian class. Its AIS indicated it was coming from Novorossiysk, Russia, but images show it sailing in ballast, heading toward Denmark and awaiting orders. The tanker is already under EU and UK sanctions. It was inspected in July at Novorossiysk, where deficiencies were noted in firefighting equipment, buoys, and alarms, but no detention was issued.
Operation Irini, established in 2020 under a UN mandate to enforce an arms embargo on Libya in the Mediterranean, has since March operated with an expanded right of visit for flag verification under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Forces board vessels, inspect documents, and collect relevant information for assessment and reporting to EU authorities.
Sanctions and Enforcement
The European Union has sanctioned more than 600 tankers to curtail Russian oil exports. Kallas commented that illegal oil sales from shadow fleet ships are a critical lifeline for Russia’s war in Ukraine and that the EU will continue to cut them off. She also indicated that actions against the shadow fleet would be discussed when EU defense ministers meet in Ireland on Tuesday.
This is the second report this month of the Italian frigate stopping a tanker. Earlier in August, it inspected the product tanker Toa Payoh (51,000 dwt) southwest of Sicily, which also claimed Cameroon registry. Vessels claiming registry in the African nation are considered suspect due to high fraud levels and because Cameroon suspended registries this year under pressure from Europeans and others.
In May and June, IRINI stopped four other tankers for inspections. Unlike actions by France, Sweden, Belgium, the UK, and others, these vessels are not being seized or directed into port.
Original Article: EUNAVFOR IRINI Intercepts Sixth Shadow Fleet Tanker Suspected of False Flag — Indexbox