The French navy intercepted and diverted the oil tanker Grinch to Marseille‑Fos after boarding the ship in the western Mediterranean. Prosecutors in Marseille are investigating whether the vessel, which sailed from Murmansk under a Comoros flag, used a false flag or failed to declare its nationality. Video shows troops fast‑roping from helicopters during the operation, which received support from allied navies including the UK. The case highlights concerns over a "shadow fleet" that helps Russia export oil despite sanctions.
French Navy Diverts Sanctions‑Targeted Tanker ‘Grinch’ to Marseille‑Fos After High‑Sea Boarding
This aerial picture taken on October 1, 2025, off the coast of western France shows French soldiers on board a tanker from Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’. Named the Pushpa or Boracay, the Benin-flagged vessel is blacklisted by the European Union [Damien Meyer/AFP]
The French navy redirected the oil tanker Grinch to the port of Marseille‑Fos for further inspection after intercepting and boarding the vessel on the high seas, French maritime authorities said.
France’s public prosecutor in Marseille, which handles maritime legal matters, confirmed the diversion and said investigators are probing whether the ship properly declared its nationality. A source close to the inquiry told AFP the tanker was expected to arrive at Marseille‑Fos the following morning.
How the Interception Unfolded
France’s maritime police said the Grinch was intercepted on Thursday in the western Mediterranean between Spain’s southern coast and Morocco’s northern shore. Video released by the French military shows troops fast‑roping from a helicopter onto the ship’s deck; reports say the boarding involved a navy boat and two helicopters. The operation received support from allied navies, including the United Kingdom.
Why the Ship Is Under Scrutiny
The Grinch sailed from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk in early January under a Comoros flag and is suspected of using a false flag and of belonging to a so‑called “shadow fleet” — a secretive group of vessels that analysts say helps Moscow move oil internationally despite Western sanctions tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
AFP reported that a tanker named Grinch is subject to United Kingdom sanctions, while another vessel called Carl with the same registration number appears on U.S. and EU sanction lists. Marseille prosecutors said they were investigating an alleged failure by the ship to confirm its nationality.
Wider Context
The European Union has adopted multiple sanction packages against Russia, but Moscow has found ways to continue exporting millions of barrels of oil, often at discounted prices, to buyers such as India and China. Much of that trade is facilitated by vessels operating outside standard Western maritime industry controls.
In a related case, French authorities detained another Russia‑linked tanker, the Boracay, off France’s west coast in October and released it after several days. French judicial authorities say the Boracay’s Chinese captain is due to stand trial in France in February over the crew’s alleged refusal to cooperate with investigators.
Note: Investigations are ongoing. Authorities have not publicly released the results of any boardings or searches, and details may be updated as prosecutors continue their inquiry.
Help us improve.
