Russia-Linked Shadow Fleet Tanker Resumes Voyage After French Detention

A Russian “shadow fleet” tanker previously detained in France has resumed its journey toward the Suez Canal, AFP writes, citing Marine Traffic and Vesselfinder data, Orda.kz reports.

The tanker Boracay, which had been held by French authorities, is again underway. According to AFP, citing a source, the ship’s captain — who had faced trial for refusing to cooperate — has also returned on board.

Incidentally, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the detention, calling it “piracy.” He said the vessel had been “seized” in neutral waters “without any basis,” according to Novaya Gazeta.

The Boracay, sailing under the flag of Benin and part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, was detained by Paris on September 27. The incident became public only yesterday. The ship is subject to EU and UK sanctions lists.

The tanker departed from Russia’s Leningrad region on September 20, bound for India. It passed through the Baltic Sea, skirted Denmark, and entered the North Sea. After rounding France’s northwest coast, it was shadowed by a French warship and redirected to the country’s eastern shoreline, where it dropped anchor.

AFP noted that between September 22 and 25, the tanker had been off the Danish coast — the same period when Danish authorities reported sightings of unidentified drones across the country.