Macron Welcomes French Probe Into Suspected ‘Shadow Fleet’ Oil Tanker Near Coast

PARIS, Oct 1 (VoM):French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed an investigation into the oil tanker Boracay, suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which is currently anchored off the coast near Saint-Nazaire in western France.

Macron, speaking during a European Union summit in Denmark, described the probe as “a good thing” and underscored Europe’s commitment to tackling covert maritime networks facilitating Russian oil exports. “The collective assessment is that Russia’s shadow fleet contains between 600 and 1,000 ships,” he said.

The Boracay, built in 2007, has drawn scrutiny due to its opaque ownership and lack of valid flag registration. On Tuesday, the Brest prosecutor’s office confirmed that a judicial probe had been launched after the crew failed to present documentation proving the ship’s nationality and refused to comply with French maritime orders.

The tanker, which is listed under British and EU sanctions against Russia, had previously been detained by Estonian authorities earlier this year for sailing without proper flag certification. According to ship-tracking data, the vessel departed Russia’s Primorsk port on September 20, traveling through the Baltic Sea, past Denmark, and into the North Sea before heading west through the English Channel. A French warship was seen shadowing the vessel as it neared French waters before altering course towards the coast.

While French naval and maritime authorities declined to comment on Wednesday, the Kremlin also distanced itself, saying it had no information on the tanker. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, noted that Moscow’s military sometimes acted to “restore order” in response to what it considered “provocative actions” by foreign powers.

“Shadow fleet” tankers typically older than 20 years—operate with hidden ownership and questionable insurance, and are often used to bypass international sanctions on Russian oil exports.

The investigation into the Boracay remains ongoing.