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100,000-Ton Russian Oil Tanker Intercepted by Denmark Released Without Detention
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
A Danish naval patrol vessel has approached a Russian-linked tanker carrying 100,000 tons of oil after the ship entered Denmark’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The vessel, named Marathon—also previously known as Udaya—is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to circumvent international sanctions.
According to The Insider, Marathon departed from the Russian port of Primorsk and is currently navigating toward the Great Belt strait, within Denmark’s EEZ and adjacent to Germany’s. Ship-tracking data shows that the Danish patrol vessel DNK NAVY PATROL P524 was dispatched to intercept the tanker.
The tanker claims to operate under the flag of the Comoros Islands. However, Denmark’s Maritime Authority has confirmed that the ship is not registered in the Comoros or any other country.
“The vessel’s crew reported during radio contact that they were sailing under the Comorian flag. Subsequent verification with Comorian authorities confirmed that the vessel is not listed in their registry,” the agency said in an official statement.
Under Article 73 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states are authorized to board, inspect, and detain unregistered vessels within their EEZs if they are suspected of violating international or national laws. The absence of registration constitutes one such condition for potential arrest.
Despite these legal grounds, such actions are rarely enforced in practice. Gonzalo Erauskin, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Insider that enforcement is often hindered by concerns over escalation and legal complexity.
“Attempts to detain unregistered tankers can provoke political backlash, as seen during Estonia’s attempt to stop the Jaguar tanker,” he said. “Even if a vessel is detained, the detaining state must manage significant logistical and legal challenges related to crew, cargo, and the ship’s ongoing custody.”
While Denmark has confirmed its communication with the Marathon’s crew, authorities have not disclosed further action plans. According to maritime analysts, unregistered tankers like Marathon routinely transit through European waters under false flags without intervention.
As of June 18, the tanker continues its course near Danish waters.
Earlier, a sanctioned Russian oil tanker named Adalynn, part of the so-called shadow fleet, caught fire after colliding with the Front Eagle near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred 44 km off the UAE coast and led to the evacuation of 24 crew members. Both ships sustained damage, raising concerns over regional maritime security and oil supply routes, Bloomberg reported.
