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France Lifts Detention of Suspected Russian Grinch Shadow Fleet Tanker After Fine
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French prosecutors have confirmed the release of the tanker Grinch, believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, after it was detained in January.
As reported by Le Figaro on February 17, the vessel had been held since late January in the Gulf of Fos near the oil terminal at the Port of Marseille-Fos. Authorities lifted the detention after a financial penalty was paid.
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“The company that owns the vessel was convicted by the Marseille court under a plea agreement procedure and fined,” the prosecutor’s office, the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture, and the Mediterranean maritime prefecture said in a joint statement, without specifying the amount of the fine.
The development comes as the United Kingdom steps up coordination with European partners to target vessels believed to be facilitating Russian oil exports in violation of sanctions.
According to Bloomberg on February 14, UK Defense Secretary John Healey held consultations with defense ministers from Baltic and Nordic countries to assess possible legal and operational measures for detaining tankers associated with Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
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The discussions were held on the margins of the Munich Security Conference within the framework of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a 10-member security coalition focused on the North Atlantic and Baltic regions.
Bloomberg reported that participants examined whether states could lawfully intercept or seize oil tankers sailing under flags of convenience but suspected of supporting Russian energy shipments. One participant told the outlet that allies are showing increasing willingness to take more assertive steps to curb revenues financing Russia’s war against Ukraine.
UK Chief of the Defense Staff Richard Knighton also took part in the meeting, outlining potential options, including coordinated multinational efforts to stop and inspect vessels, according to the report.
Additionally, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy is reportedly moving forward with plans to set up a dedicated command center on the country’s eastern coastline aimed at countering Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
The new headquarters would enable naval personnel to monitor sanctioned oil tankers and, where legally justified, detain vessels suspected of breaching sanctions.
According to the report, the base is expected to be established by repurposing HMS Calliope, a naval reserve training facility in Gateshead, into an operational command hub. The plans also предусматривают the procurement of remotely operated unmanned patrol vessels designed to conduct surveillance missions across the North Sea and the English Channel at ranges of up to 800 kilometers.
Earlier, Estonian authorities seized a container vessel sailing under the Bahamas flag in the Gulf of Finland following a coordinated operation that involved police special units, naval ships, and air support.
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