Italian Navy Boards Russia-linked 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker in Mediterranean
The flagship of the EU's EUNAVFOR MED IRINI mission, Italian warship Thaon di Revel, inspected a sanctions-hit tanker in international waters off Pantelleria, with support from Greek and Polish assets.
On Sunday morning, August 2, the Italian Navy flagship Thaon di Revel, serving as the command vessel of the European Union's EUNAVFOR MED IRINI mission, carried out an inspection of the tanker Toa Payoh in international waters west of the island of Pantelleria. The vessel is subject to EU sanctions and is considered part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet. The operation was supported by a Greek ship and a Polish patrol aircraft.
The tanker, which sails under a declared Cameroonian flag, had departed from the Beninese port of Cotonou on July 16 and was heading to Istanbul. According to Italy's Ministry of Defence, the captain initially failed to provide the required cooperation. An Italian military team then reached the vessel by helicopter from Thaon di Revel and performed the necessary checks.
The ministry said the operation, conducted within the framework of a European mandate in international waters, lasted about two hours and ended smoothly and in full safety. It was carried out in accordance with Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which, under certain conditions, permits a warship to verify a merchant vessel's nationality and the flag it is entitled to fly.
Italian authorities are now examining the information and documents obtained during the inspection. No further details were provided in the source.
