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Why Wasn’t It Seized? Spain Escorts EU-Sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker to Morocco
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Spain has dispatched a maritime rescue vessel to assist and escort an oil tanker linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet that is under European Union sanctions, Reuters reported on January 27.
The tanker Chariot Tide suffered an engine failure on January 22 and was left drifting without propulsion in international waters, about 33 miles south of the Spanish coastal town of Adra in the Almería region.
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Spanish authorities said the vessel entered Spain’s designated search-and-rescue zone, prompting an emergency response.
Spain’s Merchant Marine confirmed that a rescue ship was sent to take the tanker under escort and guide it to the port of Tanger Med in Morocco. The tanker was accompanied by the Spanish maritime rescue vessel Clara Campoamor.
as the UK and other governments amplify the dangers of the dark fleet (see link to statement below), I've been overly invested in watching the high seas drama playing out over the past 5 days with troubled Chariot Tide (IMO 9323376) an MR tanker laden with ~300k barrels of… pic.twitter.com/OCqtA7l6g2
— Michelle Wiese Bockmann (@Michellewb_) January 27, 2026
Spanish authorities did not explain why the tanker was not seized, despite being subject to EU sanctions. Spain’s Ministry of Defense did not respond to requests for comment.
According to Reuters, The Chariot Tide is sailing under the flag of Mozambique and was known as Marabella Sun until November 2024.
The European Union added the vessel to its sanctions list in November, citing its role in facilitating Russian oil exports and its use of “irregular and high-risk shipping practices.” The tanker is also subject to UK sanctions.
The incident comes amid growing European scrutiny of Russia’s shadow fleet—a network of aging tankers used to bypass Western oil sanctions. These vessels frequently change names, flags, and ownership structures, operate with opaque registration, and often lack adequate insurance coverage.
Previously, the United States seized a Venezuela-linked oil tanker after a more than two-week pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the seizure, the United Kingdom was preparing legal and operational frameworks to enable its armed forces to detain ships associated with Russia, Iran, and Venezuela that are believed to be circumventing oil sanctions.
Earlier this week, countries bordering the Baltic and North seas issued a joint warning highlighting the risks posed by vessels that manipulate or falsify identification systems, disable tracking equipment, or rotate flags to avoid detection and sanctions enforcement.
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