The European Union is working on creating legal mechanisms to detain Russian tankers in the Baltic Sea that are attempting to transport oil in violation of existing sanctions. As part of the preparation for the 19th sanctions package, an additional 120 vessels from the so-called ‘shadow’ fleet of the Russian Federation are planned to be added to the sanctions list. Thus, the total number of sanctioned tankers could reach 568 units.
This is reported by Business • Media
New Sanctions and International Mechanisms
The EU intends to utilize Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which allows for the interception of vessels without a defined national affiliation. Among the 120 new sanctioned tankers, 16 currently have no flag, which provides grounds for their detention. At the same time, most of these vessels do not use European ports or insurance companies, complicating the practical application of sanctions tools.
Increase in Vessels with Fake or Missing Flags
The need for enhanced control arose after high-profile incidents. Recently, France released a detained tanker from the Russian ‘shadow’ fleet that may have been involved in a drone incident in Denmark. After its release, the sanctioned vessel Boracay continued its route. Experts viewed this case as a negative precedent, as decisions by European courts may hinder the detention of tankers operating under false flags and transporting oil in the interests of the Russian Federation.
“EU case law will hinder the stopping of tankers operating under false flags and transporting oil in the interests of the Russian Federation.”
As a result, the number of tankers with fake or missing flags in the waters of the Baltic Sea has sharply increased, creating additional challenges for enforcing the sanctions regime.