For several days, Windward has been tracking six tankers sailing under a false flag, a shadow fleet that sails unrestricted through the English Channel and the Atlantic to and from Russian Baltic ports. These “stateless vessels” sail unhindered in the territorial waters of EU member states despite sanctions and restrictions on oil trade.

As part of the Nordic-Baltic NB8++ agreement, these vessels are being radioed for their flag, insurance, and other identifying details. This is intended to ensure the vessels’ operations comply with international maritime law.

“This is merely a formality, as the law is clearly not being followed,” notes Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a maritime intelligence analyst and expert in the field of “shadow fleets,” unfair shipping practices, and security, who publishes in LL. “The tanker Boracay was [identified as – MG] the first vessel to sail to the Baltic Sea under a false flag, but will it be the last?” Since this morning, Windward has been tracking six tankers under the false flag of the shadow fleet, sailing through the English Channel, Bockmann warned on Saturday evening, October 4th.

Boracay photo: Gianluca Balloni / VesselFinder

NB8++ Issues Statement
NB8++ recently issued a statement regarding joint operations to continue the fight against the Russian shadow fleet. “Today we agreed to further strengthen cooperation and ensure a common, coordinated approach by our national authorities to the issue of the Russian shadow fleet. We intend to develop a common set of guidelines, consistent with international law, to promote responsible maritime conduct, strengthen compliance with international law, and ensure transparency in maritime operations,” reads a statement published on June 20, 2025.

The countries grouped in NB8++ responded “strongly” with a warning: “We reiterate that the threats posed by the shadow fleet, including potential environmental damage, as well as threats to maritime security, the integrity of international maritime trade, critical undersea infrastructure, and respect for international maritime regulations and standards, extend far beyond the Baltic and North Seas and could have a global impact. We call on others to join our efforts.”

Boracay position photo: Gianluca Balloni / VesselFinder

How do countries react to a false flag vessel?
How will countries react to a false flag vessel? France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Denmark, and other countries will ask the same questions: about flag, insurance, details about the shipowner and cargo owner, the purpose of the voyage, and other identifying details.

The actual action, therefore, involves intelligence gathering. Shadow fleet operators are being discouraged from transporting crude oil and conducting business by harassing the owners of “this old, anonymous, and poorly maintained fleet, threatening the security and environment of coastal states that enjoy the right of innocent passage under UNCLOS,” Bockmann notes.

As we can see, this has been ineffective so far. But only EU countries are prepared for such actions against operators of old tankers. Decisive, military responses are extremely rare and practically ineffective. France’s actions when the tanker Boracay entered French waters are cited as an example of a consistent response.

The captain of a tanker believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, vessels used to circumvent sanctions, has been accused by French authorities of refusing to provide information about the vessel and crew to the French administration. Specifically, “the Chinese national has been charged with refusing to obey orders from the French Navy and has been summoned to appear at a court hearing in Brest in February next year,” a BBC correspondent reports.

Tracking data shows that the Boracay left Russia last month and was off the coast of Denmark when unidentified drones forced the temporary closure of several European airports last week. The tanker was seized by French soldiers because it was on a list of ships subject to EU sanctions for transporting Russian oil, France24 reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called France’s actions “piracy.” The Kremlin has previously denied any knowledge of the vessel. The Boracay is currently registered in Benin, but has changed its name and flag several times in recent years in alleged attempts to circumvent sanctions imposed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Chinese captain of the tanker, who was scheduled to appear in a French court in February for disobeying French navy orders, and the first officer have returned to the ship. AFP reported that they were “brought back to the ship after being released from custody.”