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Shadow fleet tanker without valid flag identified in English Channel
The British government has identified a legal basis which it believes can be used to allow UK military to board and detain vessels in so-called shadow fleets. Russia, Iran and Venezuela have all been accused of operating ships without a valid national flag to avoid sanctions on oil. Last week British armed forces assisted US troops in seizing the 'Marinera', which American officials accused of carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran, breaking US sanctions. To date, no UK military personnel have boarded any vessels, but officials have spent the last few weeks exploring what measures could be used. On Jan 12, 2026, the 'Condor I', sanctioned by both UK & EU, transited the English Channel, enroute from Santos to Tallinn with an ETA as of Jan 17, declaring via AIS its flagged with Aruba, while no such flag exists.
Dutch Coast Guard approached false flagged tanker believed to be part of Russian shadow fleet
The 'White Condor I' was approached by plane by the Dutch Coast Guard because the ship is on the European sanctions list and is sailing under a false Aruban flag. It is suspected that the tanker is part of the Russian shadow fleet. Contact was made with the captain during the night of Aug 19, 2025, and the responsibility for the safe navigation of the vessel was emphasized. Vessels flying the flag of Aruba or Sint Maarten are therefore considered fraudulent. An inspection by the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR) revealed at the end of August that a total of 59 members of the shadow fleet were sailing under the false flags of Aruba, Sint Maarten, and Curaçao. The 'White Condor I' changed its flag from Panama to Aruba on June 29. The ship departed the Russian port of Primorsk in mid-August and ancored near Itanhaem in pos. 24° 15' N 046° 17' W on Sep 8 with destination Santos.
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