Russia’s Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker Calls for Help Near Ireland

A Russian shadow fleet oil tanker under Western sanctions issued a distress signal in the North Atlantic, approximately 348 kilometers off Ireland’s coast, after encountering severe weather while traveling from Russia’s Baltic port of Ust-Luga.

According to maritime monitoring project SeaNews, the tanker Myra transmitted an emergency alert through the Inmarsat-C satellite communication system on October 24.

At the time, waves in the area reached 8.8 meters, while wind gusts approached 130 kilometers per hour. Despite the conditions, the vessel was reportedly moving at approximately 9 knots, or 17 kilometers per hour.

The UK Coastguard contacted nearby vessels to determine whether assistance was available. A Royal Air Force aircraft subsequently established communication with the tanker, which had 21 people on board, according to the Scottish newspaper The Press and Journal.

The crew reported that the distress signal had been activated as the tanker was leaving an area of rough seas. Following an assessment of the situation, the vessel continued its voyage.

Maritime tracking data from Starboard showed that Myra had traveled from the Baltic Sea through the North Sea before passing north of Scotland and entering the Atlantic, avoiding the English Channel.

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This northern route is also used by other vessels associated with Russia’s shadow fleet, potentially to reduce exposure to inspections by European authorities.

Built in 2006, Myra measures 228 meters in length and has a deadweight capacity of approximately 75,000 metric tons. The vessel is subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has linked the tanker to Fractal Marine DMCC, a UAE-registered company identified as a major operator within Russia’s shadow fleet. The vessel has previously visited ports in Turkey, Brazil, Senegal, Estonia, and Denmark.

Earlier, in January 2026, a BBC Verify investigation found that at least 42 UK-sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tankers had passed through the English Channel despite British authorities having legal powers to detain them. The vessels are part of a network used by Moscow to circumvent Western oil sanctions and maintain energy export revenues.

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