(ROME) – An Italian-led European Union naval mission boarded a sanctioned tanker from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Mediterranean on Sunday, the second such operation in under a fortnight as Europe deepens its crackdown on vessels suspected of helping Moscow evade oil sanctions.
The Toa Payoh, a tanker subject to EU sanctions, was intercepted west of the Sicilian island of Pantelleria while sailing from Benin to Istanbul, Italy’s Defence Ministry confirmed. The vessel had switched to a Cameroon registry only last week, according to a source familiar with the operation.
Maritime authorities launched the inspection to verify that the tanker was legally entitled to fly the Cameroon flag and that its registration documents were valid. The captain initially failed to cooperate with the EU mission, prompting a team of Italian military personnel to board the vessel from a helicopter launched by the Thaon di Revel, the flagship of EUNAVFOR MED Irini.
The inspection, carried out with support from a Greek vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft, lasted approximately two hours and was completed safely, the ministry said. Documentation gathered during the boarding remains under examination and could be used by national authorities for a subsequent sequestration if necessary.
The EU naval mission, operation EUNAVFOR MED Irini, does not have the authority to seize vessels during such inspections, meaning the Toa Payoh was not detained. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
Sunday’s operation follows the July 20 boarding of the MV South Star, another tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet that was inspected by Irini forces over suspicions it was also sailing under a false flag.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on scores of vessels it says form part of a shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent restrictions on its oil exports imposed since the full scale invasion of Ukraine. EUNAVFOR MED Irini was originally launched in 2020 to enforce a UN arms embargo on Libya. EU governments have since broadened its scope, authorising it to conduct verification boardings.
Footage of the operation was released by the Italian Defence Ministry. The boarding took place in international waters west of Pantelleria, Sicily.
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