A number of EU countries are physically detaining Russian tankers
A number of European Union member states are physically stopping tankers from the Russian “shadow fleet,” while not violating international law.
This was stated by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in an interview with RBK-Ukraine.
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“We (the European Union – ed.) have implemented best practices for dealing with the ‘shadow fleet’ in accordance with international law. Thus, Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea effectively grants the right to board these vessels. Therefore, we have also shared best practices with EU member states,” Kallas noted.
According to her, some countries have already taken certain steps in this direction. For instance, Sweden, Belgium, and France have effectively boarded ships.
“Considering that there are also environmental risks, we must act very, very carefully to use legal measures that are tools we can apply,” she added.
The fight against Russia’s “shadow fleet”
Recall that recently at least eight sanctioned oil tankers were moving through the English Channel despite the UK government’s announcement of a fight against the “shadow fleet.”
It was also reported that the Main Intelligence Directorate revealed more than fifty Russian vessels that help Russia export oil and other energy resources.
We also wrote that the new package of sanctions against Russia being prepared by the EU is intended to block the Russian “shadow fleet,” which allows Moscow to generate revenue from oil.
In addition, the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service announced plans by the Kremlin to increase the number of oil tankers sailing under the Russian flag.
