French Navy Detains Sanctioned Russian-Linked Tanker off Atlantic Coast
The French Navy has detained the oil tanker Boracay, sailing under the flag of Benin, on suspicion of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The vessel, which left the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20, passed through the Baltic Sea, Danish waters, and the English Channel before anchoring off Saint-Nazaire, western France.
French authorities have opened an investigation. According to the Brest prosecutor’s office, the crew failed to provide proof of the ship’s nationality and ignored orders from naval forces.
The Boracay, previously known as Kiwala until late 2024, is subject to sanctions from the UK and the European Union for transporting Russian crude oil to third countries, helping Moscow sustain revenues during the war in Ukraine.
The vessel, built in 2007, has already been stopped once this year: in April, Estonian forces boarded it for inspection, after which Djibouti denied claims that the ship was registered under its flag.
Danish broadcaster TV2 has also linked the tanker to drone incidents in Denmark, reporting that the vessel was in Danish waters during disturbances that included an attack near Copenhagen Airport on September 23.
The tanker remains anchored off the French Atlantic coast as investigations continue.
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