The French Navy announced an investigation into the oil tanker Boracay, suspected to be part of the “shadow fleet” involved in Russian oil trade. This tanker is subject to British and EU sanctions against Russia. Earlier this year, Estonian authorities detained it for sailing without a valid flag. These shadow fleet vessels typically have unclear ownership and often lack proper insurance.
On September 20, the Boracay left the Russian port of Primorsk, traveling through the Baltic Sea and then into the North Sea. Ship tracking shows that a French warship was monitoring it after it passed France’s northwest coast before it changed direction towards the French coast, where it is now anchored near Saint Nazaire. The Brest prosecutor confirmed that an investigation was launched after the crew failed to prove the ship’s nationality and disobeyed orders.
The EU and Britain imposed sanctions on the tanker in late 2024 and early 2025, citing its role in the transport of Russian oil and risky shipping practices. The vessel previously named Kiwala was renamed Boracay or Pushpa in December 2024.
With information from Reuters