Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Detained By French Navy Resumes Journey To Suez Canal

A Russian Shadow Fleet tanker detained by France resumed its voyage towards the Suez Canal on friday, with the vessel’s captain back onboard, per media sources.

The Boracay was boarded by the authorities on Saturday, and its captain and first mate were taken for interrogation over the tanker’s links to mysterious drone flights over Denmark last month.

The ship’s Chinese captain was to appear before a French Court in February over failure to comply with orders of the French Navy, per sources.

However, both the captain and first mate were released from custody, and the tanker was freed, according to a source close to the case.

The tanker was stopped over inconsistencies related to its official registration while it was sailing with a cargo of oil from Russia to India.

It has been linked to drone flights over Denmark, including on military areas, in a series of violations that European nations blame on Moscow, but which the latter has denied.

The incident sparked tensions between Moscow and Paris, with Russian President Vladimir Putin calling the action ‘piracy’ and vowing to give a significant response to what he called ‘European threats.’

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged EU nations to do more in order to prevent Russia from thwarting Western sanctions.

He added that the military chiefs of these countries would meet soon to discuss how to disrupt the working of the shadow fleet, consisting of atleast 1000 ships, billions of Euros of Russian budget and 40% of its war effort.

These ageing vessels not only pose danger to the marine environment, but they are also suspected of carrying out other sabotage operations.

The tanker departed from Port of Primorsk, close to Saint Petersburg, on September 20, 2025 and was to reach Vadinar in northwestern India on October 20, 2025.

Source: Maritime Shipping News