France Releases Suspected Sanctions-Busting Tanker After Fine

France released an oil tanker, named Grinch, on February 17 after its owner paid a hefty fine of several million euros amidst accusations of being part of Russia's sanctions-dodging shadow fleet. French forces, along with allied partners, boarded the vessel last month as it traveled between Spain and Morocco, having commenced its journey from Russia. After the boarding, the tanker was escorted to a port near Marseille. According to ship tracking websites like MarineTraffic and VesselFinder, the Grinch was reportedly flying a flag from Comoros, further complicating its ownership trail. The tanker is believed to be one of many in a shadow fleet used for transporting oil for countries like Russia and Iran in direct violation of U.S. sanctions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the ship's departure from French waters after paying several million euros and undergoing a lengthy three-week immobilization period. Barrot emphasized the significance of these actions, noting that Russia has systematically formed a fleet of older tankers with ambiguous ownership to circumvent sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), the United States, and the G7 nations in response to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. As it stands, the EU has blacklisted 598 vessels suspected of being part of this shadow fleet, denying them access to European ports and maritime services. Barrot asserted that the sanctions were designed to cripple Moscow's ability to fund its war efforts, stating, "Evading European sanctions comes at a price. Russia will no longer be able to bankroll its war with impunity through a shadow fleet off our shores." The judicial authorities in Marseille confirmed that the owner of the Grinch had accepted a guilty plea and was subsequently sentenced to a financial penalty by the local court. They indicated that the owner had already begun efforts to rectify the situation and would soon seek a new flag for the vessel. This incident marks a continuation of France's vigilance against sanctions violations at sea. In September, French authorities also detained a Russian-linked ship known as the Boracay, which had falsely claimed to be flagged in Benin. Incited by these actions, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned such boarding actions as acts of piracy. The captain of the Boracay, identified as Chinese, is scheduled to stand trial in France next week. As international tensions over sanctions and oil shipments escalate, this narrative embodies the complexities of maritime law and geopolitical maneuvers in contemporary international relations. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2