French media reported the detention of the oil tanker Boracay (flag of Benin), linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The vessel was boarded by French military forces off the coast of Saint-Nazaire around October 1.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the tanker was seized for “serious violations” committed by its crew, though details of the infractions have not yet been disclosed.
Boracay, built in 2007, was previously known as Kiwala and was blacklisted by the EU in February for attempts to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil shipments.
According to AIS data, the vessel was located off the coast of Denmark from September 22 to 25. During that period, drones were spotted over Danish airspace, leading to temporary airport closures and a ban on civilian drone flights. However, Macron stressed that no direct link has yet been established between the drone incidents and the tanker’s detention.
The French prosecutor’s office confirmed that two senior crew members — the captain and the chief officer — were arrested. Preliminary investigations, the office added, are focused on the vessel’s “failure to provide proof of nationality” and its “refusal to comply with instructions.”
