France reveals new details about detained Russian shadow fleet tanker

France has reported that the tanker detained as part of Russia's shadow fleet turns out to be the oil tanker Grinch, which was travelling from Murmansk under a false flag.

Source: Mediterranean maritime prefecture of France, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The detention took place in the Alboran Sea – the western part of the Mediterranean adjacent to the Strait of Gibraltar to the east – on the basis of Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The operation aimed to verify the vessel's status because it was suspected of using a false flag.

A check of the documents on board confirmed the suspicions of the French authorities, and the prosecutor in Marseille was informed.

Quote: "In accordance with international law and at the request of the public prosecutor of the Republic, the vessel was taken off its route on 22 January and is being escorted by the naval forces to an anchorage area in order to continue checks."

Background:

• Sources told French outlet BFMTV that the vessel was sailing under the flag of the Comoros. It is listed under that flag on maritime traffic-tracking sites. The tanker has often carried oil to ports in China and India.
• BFMTV notes that Grinch is mentioned under that name in the UK list of Russia's shadow fleet tankers, while in the European and US lists it appears as Carl.
• It was previously reported that the UK was also involved in detaining the tanker.

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