France has initiated an investigation into a Russian-associated oil tanker, citing “serious offences,” as announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.
The inquiry focuses on the Benin-flagged vessel, Boracay, which has been identified as part of a shadow fleet of ships subject to European Union sanctions. Macron stated, “There were some very serious offences committed by this crew, which justify the current judicial procedure,” during an EU leaders’ defense summit held in Denmark.
Investigation into potential drone incident
One aspect of the investigation will assess whether the Boracay was implicated in a recent drone incursion that violated Denmark’s airspace last week, an event that led to the temporary closure of the country’s airports. However, Macron refrained from confirming any direct connection between the tanker and the airspace violations, emphasizing the need for caution.
Originally constructed in 2007 and previously known as Pushpa and Kiwala, the Boracay is currently docked near Saint-Nazaire in western France. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has imposed sanctions on numerous tankers utilized by Russia to evade restrictions on its oil exports.
Concerns over environmental risks
The shadow fleet encompasses older ships with unclear ownership, operating without insurance compliant with Western regulations. This raises significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding the potential for maritime accidents, considering the advanced age of these vessels and their dubious insurance status. The Boracay was placed on the blacklist in February under its previous name, Kiwala.
According to data from the Marine Traffic website, the tanker departed from the Russian port of Primorsk, near Saint Petersburg, on September 20 and is scheduled to reach the port of Vadinar in India by October 20.