France Releases Suspected Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker After Fine Paid
The French government has announced the release of an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s sanctions-busting shadow fleet, following the payment of a significant fine by its owner.
– Details of the Incident:
The tanker, named Grinch, was under surveillance by the French navy near Marseille. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the vessel was leaving French waters on Tuesday after paying a penalty of several million euros.
– Background on the Seizure:
Seized by French forces in the Mediterranean in January, Grinch was diverted to the port city of Marseille. Reports indicate that it had set sail from Murmansk in northern Russia while flying under a Comoros flag.
Understanding Russia’s Shadow Fleet
Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet refers to an underground network of tankers that evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. These vessels typically employ aged tankers with obscure ownership and insurance details, making them hard to track.
– Sanctions Context:
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Western nations implemented stringent sanctions against Russian oil.
– Consequences of Evasion:
Minister Barrot emphasized, Circumventing European sanctions comes at a price. Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity through a ghost fleet off our coasts. He noted that Grinch had undergone three weeks of expensive immobilization at Fos-sur-Mer before its departure.
– Legal Proceedings:
As part of a guilty plea procedure, the company that owns the vessel was sentenced by the Marseille judicial court to a financial penalty of confiscation, stated the public prosecutor’s office along with regional maritime authorities. The exact fine amount remains undisclosed.
The Growth of Shadow Fleets
The existence of shadow fleets is on the rise. A worrying trend shows an increasing number of tankers transporting oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela using various methods to hide their identities and flout Western sanctions.
– Fleet Size:
According to data from TankerTrackers.com, the fleet now consists of approximately 1,468 vessels, roughly triple its size compared to when Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago.
– Operational Challenges:
These vessels tend to be older and are often poorly maintained. Ownership and management details are shrouded in secrecy, with frequent changes to names, identification numbers, and flags.
Heightened Enforcement Efforts
In recent months, there has been an intensified crackdown on shadow fleets, with several sanctioned tankers being seized.
– International Cooperation:
In January, British armed forces aided a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic for violating sanctions by transporting oil for Venezuela and Russia. Moscow condemned this action, asserting that no state has the authority to use force against vessels lawfully registered elsewhere.
Conclusion
The release of the tanker Grinch highlights the ongoing battle against Russia’s shadow fleet, a network increasingly adept at circumventing sanctions. As enforcement measures amplify and international cooperation strengthens, the implications for global oil markets and geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve.