French authorities have detained the captain of an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" after it was seized in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel, named the Grinch, was intercepted by the French navy earlier this week, with military personnel boarding the ship from a helicopter as captured in video footage released by the French military.
Captain in Custody for Questioning
The ship's Indian captain has been handed over to judicial authorities following the diversion of the tanker to anchorage in the Gulf of Fos-sur-Mer, according to reports from French media citing a statement from the Marseille prosecutor's office. The captain is currently being held in custody for questioning regarding the vessel's activities.
Crew Remains On Board During Investigation
While the captain has been taken into custody, the rest of the crew—also reported to be of Indian nationality—are being kept on board the vessel. A preliminary investigation has been opened, with charges initially focusing on the failure to fly a flag, a violation of maritime regulations that often accompanies attempts to obscure a ship's identity and origins.
Suspected Links to Russian Sanctions Evasion
The Grinch reportedly sailed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia and is suspected of being part of Russia's extensive "shadow fleet," which is believed to comprise over 400 ships used to evade international sanctions imposed over Russia's war on Ukraine. This fleet typically consists of aging vessels and tankers owned by nontransparent entities with addresses in countries that are not enforcing sanctions, often sailing under flags from such nations to avoid detection.
France's Crackdown on Shadow Fleet Operations
France, along with other countries, has vowed to crack down on these sanction-evasion operations. This latest interception follows a similar incident last September when French naval forces boarded another oil tanker off the French Atlantic coast. President Emmanuel Macron linked that vessel to the shadow fleet as well, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to denounce the interception as an act of piracy.
The captain from that previous interception is scheduled to go on trial in February over allegations that the crew refused to cooperate with authorities, according to French judicial officials. The Marseille prosecutor's office has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the current detention of the Grinch's captain, highlighting the sensitive and ongoing nature of these maritime enforcement actions.
