French authorities have boarded the oil tanker Boracay, suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to evade Western sanctions on crude oil exports. The vessel, currently anchored off Saint Nazaire on France’s western coast, drew attention after its crew failed to provide valid proof of nationality and ignored official orders. French prosecutors in Brest confirmed an investigation has been launched but declined to release further details.
According to AFP, military personnel in fatigues and balaclavas have been stationed on the ship since Saturday. French broadcaster BFM TV aired footage showing masked soldiers on the tanker’s bridge. Despite repeated requests, the French navy and maritime agencies have not commented on the operation.
The tanker Boracay, built in 2007, is listed under both British and EU sanctions targeting Russia’s oil trade. Earlier this year, Estonian authorities detained the same vessel for operating without a proper flag. Tracking data shows the ship departed from Primorsk, Russia, on September 20, sailing through the Baltic Sea and the English Channel before approaching French waters. Reports indicate a French warship shadowed the tanker before it altered course toward the French coast.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at an EU leaders’ summit in Denmark, welcomed the probe, calling it “a good thing” and emphasizing the need to monitor Russia’s shadow fleet, which he said numbers between 600 and 1,000 vessels. These ships, often over 20 years old, operate with opaque ownership and insurance arrangements to bypass international restrictions.
The Kremlin has distanced itself, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating Moscow had “no information” about the Boracay but accused Western nations of taking “provocative actions.”
The seizure underscores Europe’s growing efforts to crack down on Russia’s covert oil shipments, reinforcing sanctions designed to limit Moscow’s revenue streams amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.