The UK government is actively considering plans that could see British troops follow the United States' lead and board Russian-flagged 'shadow fleet' vessels carrying sanctioned oil. This comes in the wake of a dramatic series of seizures by American forces, in which the UK Royal Navy provided crucial support.
Daring US Raids Set the Precedent
On Wednesday, US forces executed back-to-back operations, seizing two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports. In a bold commando-style raid, the US Coast Guard boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera in the North Atlantic after a pursuit lasting nearly two weeks through waters between Iceland and Scotland.
A second vessel, the M/T Sophia, was accused of 'conducting illicit activities' and seized in the Caribbean. While the UK provided logistical support by air and sea for the Marinera operation—deploying an RAF Poseidon aircraft, RFA Tideforce, and a Rivet Joint surveillance plane—British personnel did not physically board the ship.
UK Identifies Legal Pathway for Military Action
However, the government has since identified a legal basis it believes could authorise UK forces to board and detain such tankers themselves. According to BBC News, officials have determined that the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act of 2018 could be used to approve the use of military force against the shadow fleet.
While no timeline is confirmed, plans are being developed for the armed forces to use these powers as part of a ramped-up campaign. The UK has already imposed sanctions on more than 500 alleged shadow ships, which it says help fund hostile activity, including Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
The so-called 'shadow' or 'dark fleet' comprises over 1,000 vessels that use deceptive tactics to transport oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela in violation of international sanctions.
Escalating Tensions and Kremlin Fury
The seizure of the Marinera, previously known as the Bella 1, has sparked fury in Moscow. Russia's transport ministry condemned the US action, stating that 'no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered under the jurisdiction of other states.' Pro-Kremlin figures issued stark warnings, with one Duma official suggesting the incident justified a military response and that Russian doctrine 'envisages the use of nuclear weapons' in such scenarios.
The Marinera's journey was emblematic of shadow fleet tactics. Pursued for weeks, it changed its name, painted a Russian flag on its hull, and was added to an official Russian ship database. Since 2020, it has operated under six names and five different country flags. The UK Ministry of Defence also believes it was involved in illegal activity linked to Hezbollah.
Following the operation, Defence Secretary John Healey stated: 'This ship... is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.' He affirmed the UK's commitment to 'step up our action against shadow fleet activity.'
The US has intensified its crackdown, seizing five vessels accused of being part of Moscow's shadow fleet in recent weeks. As the UK explores its own more direct role, the stage is set for a significant escalation in the international effort to clamp down on sanctions-busting at sea.
