France Intercepts Russia-Linked Oil Tanker Near Sicily
French forces have seized the oil tanker Deliver, linked to Russia's 'shadow fleet,' off the coast of Sicily. President Emmanuel Macron stated it is the fifth such operation since September.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France took control of a Russia-linked oil tanker off the coast of Sicily this week, marking the latest maritime seizure aimed at disrupting Russia's so-called "shadow fleet."
"On Tuesday, the French navy boarded the oil tanker Deliver as it was passing off the coast of Sicily in breach of maritime law," Macron wrote on X. The vessel, flying a Cameroonian flag and sailing from Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk, was boarded due to doubts over the validity of its registration, according to the French maritime prefecture.
The French navy escorted the tanker to an anchorage spot for further inspections. Macron said the Deliver is tied to Russia's "shadow fleet," which is used to circumvent Western sanctions. To evade tracking, vessels often engage in "flag-hopping" or operate under invalid registrations.
"We will not allow the 'shadow fleet' to circumvent sanctions and finance Russia's war effort," Macron said. This operation marks the fifth time since September that France has boarded a suspected "shadow fleet" ship. In late May, French authorities, working alongside British forces, detained the vessel Tagor in the Atlantic on suspicion of flying a false flag. The ship's Russian captain was initially taken into custody but later released.
In response to persistent evasion tactics, France announced a plan in April to double financial and criminal penalties for vessels that fail to display a valid flag or refuse to comply with naval instructions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the interception of Russia-linked vessels as "piracy."
