France slaps penalty on Russian tanker over sanctions breach

France has imposed a multi-million-euro penalty on an alleged Russian shadow fleet oil tanker after seizing the vessel for breaching EU sanctions. 

IMAGE: Getty Images

Russia-linked oil tanker Grinch was seized by French authorities three weeks earlier and held at the French port of Fos-sur-Mer, before being allowed to leave French waters, the country’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on social media platform X (formerly twitter).

“The tanker Grinch will leave French waters after shelling out several million euros and three weeks of costly immobilization at Fos-sur-Mer,” Barrot wrote, without disclosing the exact amount of the fine.

Earlier this month, the European Commission (EC) proposed a new sanctions package against Moscow, targeting vessels suspected of belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

The total number of EU-blacklisted ships used to bypass price caps on Russian crude and refined products is estimated to be more than 640, the Commission said earlier.

A shadow fleet is made up of older vessels that intentionally evade regulations. By assembling a shadow fleet used to circumvent sanctions meant to restrict Russian oil revenues, the country has effectively traded outside the imposed price caps.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online