15 August 2025, Friday
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Irish authorities are monitoring a rise in shadow fleet tankers bypassing the English Channel to avoid scrutiny, reports the Irish Times.
Ireland has reported an increase in shadow tankers sailing along its west coast to avoid the English Channel, where UK authorities demand insurance documentation. The Irish Times said vessels are opting for a longer route north of Scotland and west of Ireland due to less sophisticated tracking and fewer challenges.
The latest case involves the tanker Blue, which switched off its AIS signal before entering the Irish EEZ. The vessel, laden with crude oil from Ust-Luga, departed on 31 July and resumed transmission later on 8 August, showing a course toward the Suez Canal at 10 knots.
The Blue is listed by TankerTrackers.com as sanctioned by both the UK and EU, and flagged by Greenpeace as an environmental risk. The site tracks over 1,200 blacklisted tankers.
Built in 2003, the 169,000 dwt tanker has used six different flags since 2020, including Benin, Antigua and Barbuda, Liberia, Palau, Djibouti, and Cyprus. It currently claims registry in Benin, with management reportedly based in Turkey since 2024.
Irish authorities said the vessel drew attention due to its apparent false flag. The Irish Coast Guard has implemented new monitoring measures, including support from the Air Corps and Naval Service. However, unlike the UK and Baltic states, Ireland is not actively challenging vessels to verify identity or insurance.
The Irish Times reported the Blue is likely bound for India, which continues to import Russian oil.
