A tanker from a Russian shadow fleet has made its way into the English Channel for the first time following the UK’s interception of the Smyrtos vessel. The Russian-flagged Forwarder entered the Channel on Wednesday after departing Primorsk, Russia’s primary Baltic Sea port, loaded with oil. Satellite images confirmed this information, as reported by the BBC.
Ship-tracking data indicates that the Royal Navy’s HMS Tyne is operating near the location of the Forwarder. Despite being sanctioned by the UK, US, and EU in 2025, the Russian tanker is declaring its final destination as Dongying port in China. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) disclosed that Russia’s extensive fleet of over 700 vessels plays a crucial role in transporting 75% of Moscow’s oil, supporting financial activities related to the conflict in Ukraine.
This occurrence marks the first instance of a UK-sanctioned shadow fleet vessel passing through the Channel since the seizure of the Smyrtos. After the initial interception operation by the UK, tracking data revealed several sanctioned ships altering their courses to avoid the Channel.
When questioned about operational details, an MoD spokesperson refrained from providing specific information to maintain the effectiveness of potential actions against these vessels. The captain of the Smyrtos, Ajay Pant, appeared in court for allegedly breaching sanctions by transporting prohibited oil from Russia to a third country. Pant, an Indian national, appeared in Southampton Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody until a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for July 16 at Bournemouth Crown Court.
The Smyrtos, carrying 98,000 tonnes of crude oil, remains anchored off Weymouth in Dorset, with its crew members from Georgia and India onboard.