Europe’s decision to intensify its crackdown and detentions of the shadow fleet transporting Russia’s crude is achieving results following a drastic decline in the number of vessels flying false flags and a growing number of sanctioned vessels seeking refuge in the Russian flag registry.

A report by nonprofit think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that due to detentions, the number of shadow vessels flying false flags has declined from a peak of 101 in October last year to 45 by the end of June. In the first half of this year, authorities boarded and detained some 13 tankers in European or UK coastal waters.

Among the shadow fleet vessels detained in European waters is the 2009-built Smyrtos, a crude oil tanker seized by British forces in the English Channel in June for violating Russian sanctions. In May, French troops boarded the Tagor (114,809 dwt) as she was sailing in the Mediterranean.

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The authors of the report highlight that December last year was the most active month in terms of shadow fleet reflagging. During the month, the Russian registry recorded an influx of 25 vessels. Since then, monthly additions have fallen on a monthly basis from 17 in January to just three in June, an indication that the initial surge of sanctioned vessels seeking refuge under the Russian registry has largely subsided mainly due to a draft presidential decree proposing to cap the age of vessels the registry accepts.

Notably, some 93 of the 107 vessels that joined the Russian registry were already under sanctions. 72 of them had transported Russian fossil fuels worth €7.5 billion ($8.5 billion) globally as of the end of June. After being sanctioned, the 72 vessels changed flags roughly three times more frequently, registering under a new flag every three to four months on average before settling under the Russian flag.

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Owing to the continuous reflagging of Russia’s shadow fleet, CREA is calling on Europe to develop enforcement frameworks for Russian-flagged vessels and continue and expand its inspections and detentions of the shadow fleet, among other measures.

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