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France squeezed the siege against the so -called Russian “ghost fleet” by seizing tanker Boracay, suspected of dribbling international sanctions. The captain, of Chinese nationality, will be tried for disobedience to the police authority, amid an investigation that exposes Russia’s risks and strategies to maintain oil flow in times of war. The hearing will take place at the Brest Court on February 23, 2026, the prosecutor announced on Thursday (2/10) after the commander’s pre-trial detention on the ship.
The Public Prosecution Service of Brest opened an investigation for lack of proof of the nationality and the flag of the vessel, as well as refusal to comply with a police order, and detained the captain and his immediate, both of Chinese nationality. Only the captain will face judicial process; The other crewman, who followed his orders, was allowed to retire.
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Boracay, immobilized on the coast of Brittany, is investigated on suspicion of joining the Russian “ghost fleet” – a set of vessels that, since the invasion of Ukraine, allows Russia to circumvent international sanctions to export oil.
Boracay departed from the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20 and sailed through waters from Baltic and the North Sea before approaching the French coast. The vessel was monitored by a French frigate, who accompanied her until she changed her route toward the French coast. Kremlin said he had no information about the ship, but criticized provocative actions from some foreign countries.
Ghost fleet size
The European Union estimates that 444 ships will be part of this fleet. The United Kingdom has been sanctioned 500 vessels since February 2022, and the United States, 183 boats.
The British government defines as “ghost fleet” the ships involved in illegal operations to circumvent sanctions, avoid safety or environmental standards, circumvent insurance costs or perform other illicit activities.
These “Shadow Fleet or Dark Fleet” fleets already existed before the war in Ukraine, being used by countries such as Iran, Venezuela and North Korea – all under American oil sanctions.
Since the start of the large -scale conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the world ghost fleet has grown significantly. According to the Atlantic Council’s American Study Group, almost 17% of all oil tankers today are part of this fleet, which also includes other types of merchant ships.
Among the sanctions imposed on Russia are the Russian oil embargo, the limitation of its price and the prohibition of maritime transport services – measures aimed at preventing the financing of the Russian war machine.
To circumvent these restrictions, Moscow reduced his dependence on Western maritime services, began to acquire indirect vessels and created his own insurance schemes.
These vessels, however, do not have proper insurance, known as R&I, mandatory for commercial ships and intended to cover risks such as war, collisions or environmental damage such as oil leaks.
From 90 to 95% of the R&I insurance market is in the hands of European Union and the United Kingdom insurers, who apply sanctions against Russia. “The alternative schemes proposed by Russian and Iranian governments are very insufficient,” warns Elisabeth Braw of Atlantic Council. According to her, these factors make work on board “extremely dangerous.”
Macron calls for more pressure against ghost fleet
French President Emmanuel Macron requested on Thursday that Europe “increases the pressure” against the Russian ghost fleet after the seizure of Boracay, which was being used by Moscow to escape western sanctions.
The ship, which beaten Benin’s flag, was seized in France on Saturday (27). He was also anchored in front of the Denmark Coast last month, during the mysterious drone flights attributed to Russia.
“It is very important to increase pressure on this ghost fleet, because it will clearly reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war effort in Ukraine,” Macron said before a European Copenhagen summit.
According to The Maritime Executive website, Boracay would be involved in drone flights that interrupted air traffic in Denmark in September. The European Union had already included the oil company in its list of sanctions.
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