France releases Russian shadow fleet tanker after Marseille court imposes fine
France has allowed the Deyna, a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, to leave the port of Marseille, the maritime news outlet Maritima reports. The vessel put to sea on April 16 and is heading for international waters.
A Marseille court heard a case against the Deyna‘s owner over the use of a flag of convenience. The owner was unable to prove the right to fly the Mozambican flag under which the tanker had been sailing. The court imposed a fine, the amount of which has not been disclosed, and the owner agreed to remedy the violations as quickly as possible.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the detention of the Deyna on March 20. The tanker had been sailing from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, Macron said, describing it as a vessel from Russia’s shadow fleet that had been violating sanctions and maritime law. He said France would not allow such ships to help Russia earn oil revenues that it uses to fund the war in Ukraine.
European countries have repeatedly detained shadow fleet tankers carrying Russian oil in circumvention of Western sanctions, though in most cases the vessels are eventually released.
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