Russian shadow tanker detained in Marseille, Reuters reports

The oil tanker Grinch has been intercepted by the French Navy on suspicion of operating under a false flag and belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, which Moscow has used to circumvent Western restrictions on its energy sector imposed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Source: Reuters

Details: The tanker was grounded at the Marseille-Fos Port. The Marseille prosecutor said that the vessel's Indian captain, who had been taken into custody by the authorities, had since been released and allowed to return on board.

The French authorities reported that the vessel had left the Russian port of Murmansk in early January, sailing under the flag of the Comoros Islands.

Background:

• A reduction in India's purchases of Russian oil has forced Moscow's oil tankers to gather near Oman and along the Indian coast without being able to unload.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the restrictions on Russian maritime oil exports currently in effect are expected to reduce Russian revenues by at least US$30 billion annually.

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