EU mission boards Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker in Mediterranean

An Italian-led European Union naval mission intercepted and boarded a Russian tanker suspected of operating within Moscow's "shadow fleet" in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday. The operation was conducted by the EU's EUNAVFOR MED Irini operation.

The vessel, identified as the Toa Payoh and sailing under the flag of Cameroon, was intercepted west of the Italian island of Pantelleria. It was traveling from Benin to Istanbul. The tanker is reportedly subject to EU sanctions aimed at circumventing restrictions on Russian oil exports following the invasion of Ukraine.

According to Italy's Defense Ministry, the ship's captain initially failed to cooperate. A team of Italian military personnel then boarded the vessel via helicopter launched from the flagship Thaon di Revel. The inspection, which lasted approximately two hours, was carried out with support from a Greek vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft and concluded safely.

Italian authorities are currently examining the documentation obtained during the boarding. It remains unclear whether the vessel has been detained. The EU has sanctioned numerous vessels believed to be part of the "shadow fleet" used by Russia to bypass oil export restrictions.

The EUNAVFOR MED Irini mission was initially launched in 2020 to enforce a UN arms embargo on Libya. EU member states have since expanded its mandate to include verification boardings of vessels suspected of operating under false flags.