Suspected ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker Departs Western France Amid Sanctions
The Boracay, a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and under Western sanctions, has set sail from its anchorage off western France, according to MarineTraffic data.
The vessel, which was heading southwest down the Bay of Biscay at cruise speed early on Friday, had been detained by French Navy commandos over the weekend. It is unclear why the Boracay was allowed to depart after the raid. Neither local French maritime authorities nor the Brest prosecutor’s office, which has been investigating the Benin-flagged vessel over its nationality, responded to requests for comment.
Prior to its detention, the Boracay was destined for India‘s Vadinar port, home to a Nayara Energy refinery. Reuters could not ascertain if that was where it was heading.
European Strategy to Combat Russian Oil Revenue Stream
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that the ship was detained as part of a European strategy to combat the oil revenue stream that helps to fund Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. To try to skirt Western sanctions, Russia has been increasingly relying on old vessels, known as the shadow fleet, to ship its oil and gas.
Macron also said it was unclear whether the vessel was involved in drone incursions in Denmark last week, which shut Danish airports close to the route the ship had been sailing from the Baltic to the North Sea.
The departure of the Boracay raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and the ongoing challenges in monitoring maritime activities related to Russian oil exports.
Original Article: Suspected ‘shadow fleet’ tanker sets sail from western France — Reuters