French military boards tanker suspected of ties to Russian oil trade, media reports say
The French military has boarded an oil tanker, the Boracay, which is suspected of belonging to the so-called shadow fleet involved in the Russian oil trade, French media reported on Wednesday.
Military Boarding and Investigation
French authorities have been tight-lipped about the vessel, which is currently at anchor near the western city of Saint Nazaire. The Brest prosecutor said on Tuesday that a probe had been opened after the crew failed to provide proof of the vessel’s nationality and failed to comply with orders, but gave no further details.
According to French media reports, the military personnel boarded the ship on Saturday, and since then, soldiers dressed in fatigues and wearing balaclavas have been patrolling the ship’s deck. The French navy, the coast guard, and other maritime authorities did not respond to requests for comment.
Russian Government Response
The Kremlin said it had no information about the vessel but added that the Russian military sometimes has to act to restore order when foreign countries take “provocative actions.” This statement comes as France investigates a suspected infraction on the ship. French President Emmanuel Macron described Russia’s shadow fleet as containing 600 to 1,000 ships.
Sanctions and Ship Tracking
The Boracay is listed under British and European Union sanctions against Russia. It was detained by Estonian authorities earlier this year for sailing without a valid country flag. The tanker left the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20, according to MarineTraffic data. It sailed through the Baltic Sea and over the top of Denmark before entering the North Sea and transiting west through the Channel.
Ship tracking data shows that the 2007-built tanker was being shadowed by a French warship after it rounded France’s northwestern tip, before altering course and heading east toward the French coast.
As the investigation continues, the implications of this military action on international relations remain to be seen.
Original Article: French military board tanker that is suspected of ties to Russian oil trade, media reports say — Reuters