At least eight tankers sanctioned for transporting illegal Russian oil exports are currently moving through the English Channel, despite the UK government saying disrupting the so-called “shadow fleet” is a priority.

Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has used hundreds of ageing tankers with obscured ownership – known as the shadow fleet – to evade sanctions on oil exports.

The UK government has pledged to take new “assertive actions” against shadow fleet vessels and the BBC understands officials have received legal advice that the tankers can be boarded and seized.

But that authority has yet to be used and on Friday morning ship-tracking site MarineTraffic showed eight tankers sanctioned by the UK are currently moving through the Channel. A further four tankers appear to be heading towards the passage from the North Sea.

Some of the tankers – such as Kusto, a 21-year-old crude oil carrier currently sailing south of the Isle of Wight – have made repeated voyages through the Channel over the past year.

The Kusto is listed on the tracking site MarineTraffic as having picked up its cargo at the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga 10 days ago.

Last week BBC Verify revealed that dozens of other shadow fleet vessels have passed through the Channel since the beginning of the year.
Source: BBC