FRENCH NAVY INTERCEPTS “SHADOW FLEET” OIL TANKER Amid Rising Energy Sanctions Evasion
The operation was carried out roughly 450 nautical miles south of Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, according to President Emmanuel Macron.
A video clip posted on social media by Macron depicts French troops rappling aboard the oil tanker DF Peak, which the president said is suspected of sailing under a false flag and participating in illicit fuel‑trafficking.
“The Navy boarded the oil tanker DF Peak, which is suspected of operating under a false flag and linked to unlawful fuel smuggling,” Macron wrote online. He shared footage showing soldiers descending with climbing gear, underscoring the tactical nature of the intervention.
France remains determined to combat the “shadow fleet” wherever it may operate globally.
Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Defence (GUR) identifies the vessel as part of Russia’s shadow‑fleet network that moves crude oil through the Sovcomflot shipping company. The ship, built in 2006, has altered its flag registrations throughout its career, enabling the organization to mask the ship’s true origin.
Earlier this year, French forces had stopped the Russian shadow‑fleet tanker “Deliver” near Sicily in violation of maritime law. Russia leverages complex ownership structures, flags of convenience and covert cargo tagging tactics to evade Western sanctions imposed on its energy sector.
The shadow fleet’s ability to sidestep restrictions relies on layers of fronted corporate entities and transient nationality usage.
Several other European nations have reported interceptations of similar shadow‑fleet vessels in recent months, signalling a broader trend of international efforts to curb illegal transshipment of oil.
