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The UK government has reportedly discovered a legal framework that it believes could authorize British military forces to board and detain ships operating within so-called shadow fleets, according to BBC News. These shadow fleets include vessels accused of sailing without valid national flags to evade sanctions, with Russia, Iran, and Venezuela among the countries implicated. Recently, British forces aided US troops in the seizure of the Marinera oil tanker, a ship alleged by American officials to be transporting oil connected to these nations in violation of US sanctions. While no UK military personnel have yet boarded any shadow vessels, government officials have been evaluating possible measures over recent weeks.
Ministers view the 2018 Sanctions and Money Laundering Act as providing them with the necessary authority to deploy military force in this context. There are indications that the armed forces may soon employ these powers in what is described internally as an escalation in actions against shadow fleets. However, the timing of any such military intervention remains unclear. On Thursday, two oil tankers facing US sanctions were observed moving eastward through the English Channel toward Russia. The UK itself has sanctioned over 500 suspected shadow vessels considered to be financing hostile operations, including Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Officials note that joint efforts by the UK and its allies have resulted in approximately 200 ships being taken off the seas, most of which lacked legitimate flagging.
Flagging a ship—registering it under a particular country—enables it to navigate international waters while receiving legal protections. The government asserts that its newly identified legal route could apply to sanctioned vessels without valid registration. This would encompass the recently seized Marinera tanker, formerly known as the Bella 1, which was intercepted by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the US requested British assistance, with RAF surveillance aircraft and the Royal Navy’s support ship RFA Tideforce participating in the operation. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the intervention was fully compliant with international law and underscored the UK’s commitment to counter malign activity at sea. He told Parliament that the government is augmenting its measures against the shadow fleet by developing additional military options and improving coordination with allied nations.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence reiterated that deterring, disrupting, and degrading the Russian shadow fleet remains a governmental priority, although no details on operational planning were disclosed. On the civilian front, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander revealed that insurance checks on vessels have been intensified, with over 600 ships detained near the British Isles. Since vessels lacking proper flagging typically do not hold insurance, experts warn there could be significant risks if accidents such as major oil spills were to occur. Nonetheless, Alexander declined to specify how many alleged shadow vessels have sailed within UK waters, explaining that disclosing such information would only benefit President Putin
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