Russian “Ghost Fleet” Expands Amid Sanctions: Three Ships Spotted Off Sardinian Coast
The Russian “ghost fleet,” a vast network of merchant vessels and tankers, has been increasingly present in Italian waters and beyond. These ships, often old and unseaworthy, fly flags of other countries and disable tracking systems to evade international sanctions. The latest example is the sighting of three Russian ships off the coast of Sardinia, including the Sparta IV, dubbed “the courier of death” for its role in transporting sensitive goods.
French and US Authorities Seize Tankers
In January 2026, French authorities seized the tanker Grinch, registered under a Comoran flag and suspected of operating on behalf of the shadow fleet, as it headed west. Similarly, on January 7, the US Coast Guard and Navy captured the tanker Marinera (formerly known as Bella 1), believed to be part of the ensemble of ships violating the G7-imposed cap on Russian oil prices.
Manipulation of AIS Signals and Navigation System Interferences
The manipulation of Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals and interferences in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation systems has raised concerns about the safety of maritime traffic and subsea infrastructure. This practice is not limited to Italian waters, as various European coastal states, including the UK, have issued warnings about the dangerous practices of some ships linked to the shadow fleet.
Russian Ships in the Black Sea and Cases Kairos and Virat
The Black Sea was also a hotspot for Russian ship activity. Ukrainian authorities claimed to have struck several tankers associated with the shadow fleet in the Black Sea and Mediterranean in autumn and winter 2025, including the cases of the Kairos and Virat vessels, flying African flags but linked to Russian operators according to Ukrainian sources.
The Expansion of the Ghost Fleet After Russia’s Oil Sanctions in 2022
The Russian ghost fleet has grown exponentially since the G7 and European Union imposed limits on Russian oil exports and prices in 2022. Internationally, the United States, European Union, and European countries are intensifying efforts to counter this phenomenon, including targeted sanctions against ship owners and managers, seizures at sea of suspected vessels, agreements for inspections and controls at ports, and coordinated warnings from coast guard authorities about maritime safety in the Baltic and North Europe.
EU Considers Strengthening Regulations
The EU is considering strengthening regulations to enable more effective inspections of suspicious ships and strike at the services that facilitate these operations. As international pressure mounts, the Russian ghost fleet continues to evolve, posing a significant challenge to global efforts to enforce sanctions and maintain maritime safety.
Original Article: Cresce la ‘flotta fantasma’ con cui Mosca aggira le sanzioni: tre navi al largo della Sardegna a radar spenti per non farsi intercettare — Quotidiano (Italian) | View English Translation