France Detains Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker Near Sicily in Major Crackdown on Russian Oil Shipping
According to French authorities, the 150,284-dwt tanker Deliver was stopped on June 23 during a coordinated maritime operation involving the French Navy, the Royal Navy, and EUNAVFOR MED. Military personnel boarded the vessel to inspect its documentation after concerns were raised over the legitimacy of its registered flag.
The inspection reportedly confirmed suspicions regarding the validity of the ship’s flag registration. Following the boarding, the tanker was escorted to a French anchorage, where authorities launched a formal investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor in Marseille.
Tanker Linked to Russian Oil Trade
The Deliver, which has claimed registration under the Cameroon flag since the beginning of the year, departed from Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal and was reportedly sailing toward Singapore, according to AIS tracking data.
The vessel has already been targeted by Western sanctions. The European Union imposed sanctions on the tanker in March 2025 for its involvement in transporting Russian oil, while the United Kingdom added the ship to its sanctions list in May 2025.
Built in 2000, the tanker is reported to be under Chinese management and has operated under the name Deliver since 2021. Before adopting the Cameroon registry, the vessel previously sailed under the Hong Kong flag and later falsely claimed registration in Mozambique before changing flags again.
Shipping databases also indicate that the tanker has been out of class since 2025, while its most recent recorded inspection dates back to August 2024.
France Targets Shadow Fleet Operations
French naval authorities said vessels operating within the so-called shadow fleet routinely attempt to bypass international sanctions by using false flag registrations, operating without proper insurance, and ignoring internationally recognized maritime safety standards.
Officials warned that these practices not only undermine sanctions enforcement but also increase risks to global maritime security and the marine environment.
French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to disrupting shadow fleet operations, stating on social media that the latest interception demonstrates Europe’s determination to enforce sanctions.
“We will not allow the shadow fleet to evade sanctions and fund Russia’s war effort,” Macron said.
Macron has repeatedly argued that even temporary disruptions to shadow fleet voyages weaken the economics behind sanctioned oil transport.
Third Mediterranean Interception by France
The detention of the Deliver marks the third shadow fleet tanker intercepted by France in the Mediterranean.
Just last month, French authorities stopped another tanker, Tagor, which was also suspected of operating under a false flag. That vessel remains anchored off Brittany while legal proceedings continue.
Previous cases have generally resulted in financial penalties before vessels were released, although France has also prosecuted, in absentia, the Chinese captain of another shadow fleet tanker.
UK Continues Parallel Enforcement
Meanwhile, authorities in the United Kingdom continue to hold the tanker Smyrtos, which was detained in mid-June.
According to an update from Dorset Council, the vessel remains under detention with 24 crew members from India and Georgia still on board. Officials said welfare checks are being carried out daily.
Read: British Forces Seize Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker in Landmark English Channel Operation
Media reports have indicated that the UK government is considering auctioning the tanker, with any proceeds potentially being directed toward assistance for Ukraine.
Europe Expands Pressure on Shadow Fleet
European governments have pledged to step up enforcement against shadow fleet vessels, particularly those operating under fraudulent flag registrations to transport sanctioned Russian oil.
Russia has condemned these operations as “piracy” and has occasionally provided limited naval escorts for shadow fleet tankers, particularly in the Baltic Sea and the English Channel.
As Europe tightens maritime enforcement, the campaign against sanctioned oil shipments is expected to remain a key focus in international shipping and global maritime security.
