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Recent ship tracking data reveals that a Russian tanker, known as Forwarder and linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” has navigated into the English Channel. This marks the first such passage since UK authorities boarded the Smyrtos vessel earlier that Sunday. Forwarder, flying the Russian flag, departed from Primorsk port last week and was observed entering the Channel on Wednesday evening, charting a course southbound with its declared destination being Dongying in China.
The shadow fleet consists of hundreds of tankers, many old and obscured by unclear ownership, that Russia employs to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since the boarding of Smyrtos, which was sanctioned by the UK, US, and EU in 2025 and accused of illegally transporting Russian oil, other sanctioned vessels have reportedly avoided the English Channel, rerouting to alternative paths, frequently around the west coast of Ireland instead.
Despite Forwarder’s presence, officials from the UK Ministry of Defence refrained from commenting directly on the tanker or detailing operational tactics, citing concerns that public statements might undermine efforts to take effective action against such ships. However, ship-tracking information indicates that a Royal Navy warship, HMS Tyne, was operating near Forwarder’s location. Previous satellite imagery confirmed Forwarder’s departure from Primorsk on June 12 after loading oil from the largest refinery in the Baltic Sea—a vital hub for Russia’s energy exports.
Experts have suggested that any potential interception of Forwarder by the UK or other Western nations is unlikely, especially given that the tanker sails under the Russian flag and may be escorted by Russian naval vessels, such as the warship Admiral Grigorovich, which has been known to accompany sanctioned oil shipments. Frederik Van Lokeren, a former Belgian naval officer, pointed out that actively boarding a Russian-flagged ship would escalate tensions considerably. Mark Douglas, a maritime analyst, contrasted Forwarder’s case with that of Smyrtos, noting that Smyrtos’ delisting from the Cameroon registry provided a clearer legal basis for the UK to intervene, whereas Forwarder’s Russian registration does not suggest a fraudulent flag.
Following the Smyrtos boarding, tracking data shows a noticeable shift in sanctioned vessels’ routes, with many adjusting their journeys to avoid the English Channel. Data also indicates that shadow fleet tankers have entered UK territorial waters on at least 94 occasions, maintaining proximity within the 12 nautical mile limit of the coastline. The shadow fleet as a whole carries approximately 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil exports, playing a critical role in sustaining the Kremlin’s war efforts and economic stability, according to the Ministry of Defence
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