Belgium Seizes Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker
Belgian authorities, with support from the French navy, have seized a Russian oil tanker in the North Sea. The vessel is suspected of being part of Moscow's “shadow fleet,” used to circumvent Western sanctions and secretly transport oil.
The seized tanker, identified as the Ethera, was boarded by Belgian special forces with the assistance of French helicopters in a clandestine operation in the North Sea. The 180-meter vessel, built in 2008, was sailing under a false Guinean flag and was escorted to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. A criminal investigation is underway, and the Russian captain is being questioned. This seizure, codenamed "Operation Blue Intruder," marks a more aggressive stance by European nations against Russia's circumvention of sanctions. The Ethera was already on U.S. and EU sanctions lists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the "strong action against Moscow's floating purse." The "shadow fleet" consists of aging tankers with opaque ownership, often sailing without proper insurance and using deceptive practices like flying false flags to transport Russian crude oil. These operations help Russia finance its war in Ukraine by getting around international oil sanctions. Beyond sanctions evasion, these shadow fleet vessels pose significant environmental risks due to their age and lack of proper regulation, increasing the chances of oil spills and other maritime accidents. There are also concerns that these ships could be used for espionage, including drone launches and radar jamming.
