French authorities have released a tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's sanctioned shadow fleet after it paid a multi-million euro penalty and endured three weeks of costly immobilization. The vessel, named the Grinch, was intercepted last month in the Mediterranean Sea as part of an investigation into its failure to fly a valid flag.
Financial Penalty and Judicial Action
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the release in a post on X, stating that the tanker is to leave French waters following the payment of a penalty amounting to "several million euros." He emphasized that circumventing European sanctions carries a significant price, declaring, "Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity through a ghost fleet off our coasts."
The Marseille prosecutor's office and regional maritime authorities issued a joint statement confirming that the company owning the vessel was sentenced through a guilty plea procedure to a financial penalty of confiscation. However, the exact amount of the fine was not disclosed publicly.
Investigation and Crew Details
The French military diverted the ship last month and anchored it at the port of Fos-sur-Mer. Throughout the investigation, the crew, all of Indian nationality, were kept on board the vessel. This action was part of broader efforts to enforce international sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Russia's Shadow Fleet Operations
Russia is believed to be utilizing a fleet of over 400 ships to evade sanctions, comprising aging vessels and tankers owned by nontransparent entities based in non-sanctioning countries. These ships often sail under flags from such nations, complicating enforcement efforts.
France and other countries have pledged to intensify their crackdown on this shadow fleet. In a related incident last September, French naval forces boarded another oil tanker off the French Atlantic coast, which President Emmanuel Macron also linked to the shadow fleet. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced that interception as an act of piracy.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The captain of the tanker intercepted in September is scheduled to go on trial next week over allegations that the crew refused to cooperate with authorities. This highlights the ongoing legal and diplomatic tensions surrounding the enforcement of sanctions against Russia's maritime activities.
The release of the Grinch marks a significant step in France's strategy to disrupt Russia's ability to finance its military operations through illicit oil shipments, underscoring the broader international commitment to upholding sanctions.
