France releases suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker after fine paid
Summary
France released an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet" after the owner paid a fine. The tanker, called Grinch, was previously seized by French forces in the Mediterranean Sea and held in Marseille. The ship was released after paying several million euros as a penalty.Key Facts
- The tanker Grinch was suspected of being part of a fleet evading sanctions on Russian oil.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the tanker's release.
- The Grinch was seized in January and detained at the port city of Marseille.
- The vessel was flying under a Comoros flag and started its journey from Murmansk, Russia.
- The tanker owner paid a fine of several million euros to secure the release.
- Shadow fleets are used to bypass sanctions and consist mainly of older vessels.
- These ships often have unclear ownership and change flags frequently.
- The shadow fleet reportedly includes about 1,468 vessels, significantly more than before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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