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France Releases Suspected Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Following Fine
The owner paid an undisclosed fine and agreed to fix registration violations after France said the ship lacked proof of nationality.
- On Thursday, April 16, 2026, the Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture announced the release of The Deyna, a Mozambican-flagged tanker linked to Russia's "shadow fleet," which departed Marseille after being detained since March 20.
- French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the detention after the French Navy intercepted the tanker on suspicion of flying a false flag, alleging it helped Russia generate oil revenues to fund the war in Ukraine.
- A Marseille court imposed an undisclosed fine, which the owner settled Wednesday after failing to prove the tanker's right to fly the Mozambican flag; tracking data shows it is now heading toward China.
- France has intercepted three vessels since September as part of a campaign to disrupt sanction evasion; European nations frequently detain these ships, though most are released once owners address compliance, as seen with The Grinch.
- Across the European Union, nearly 600 ships are currently subject to sanctions; a draft law proposes increasing penalties to seven years in prison and €700,000 fines if vessel operations threaten boarding personnel.
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18 Articles
France releases Russian shadow fleet tanker after Marseille court imposes fine
France has allowed the Deyna, a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, to leave the port of Marseille, the maritime news outlet Maritima reports. The vessel put to sea on April 16 and is heading for international waters.
A tanker seized in March and suspected of belonging to a "shadow fleet" used by Russia to export oil has left a French port after paying a fine, authorities said Thursday.
The oil tanker "Deyna" was held in the Gulf of Fos for almost four weeks. Now it is released according to French information.
An oil tanker linked to the Russian phantom fleet left the French waters after paying a fine, the amount of which is unknown. Arrived in Fos-sur-Mer, the ship Deyna resumes the sea under surveillance towards China.
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