On Tuesday, France released the tanker Grinch, suspected of being part of Russia’s “ghost fleet” aimed at evading sanctions, after its owner paid a fine of several million euros, confirmed French officials, reports AFP.
The vessel has been held since the end of January in the Gulf of Fos, in the south of France, after it was intercepted between Spain and Morocco, having started its journey from Russia. The tanker was escorted to a port near the city of Marseille.
Ship monitoring sites, MarineTraffic and VesselFinder, reported that Grinch was sailing under the flag of the Comoros archipelago. The vessel is suspected of transporting oil for countries such as Russia and Iran, violating sanctions imposed by the USA.
“The tanker Grinch leaves French waters after paying several million euros and undergoing a costly three-week immobilization in Fos-sur-Mer,” declared French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, on X.
It is believed that Russia has built a fleet of older tankers, with opaque owners, to circumvent sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU), the USA, and the G7 group, following its invasion of Ukraine. The EU currently lists 598 vessels suspected of being part of the “ghost fleet”, banned from European seaports and unable to access maritime services.
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