First Russian shadow fleet tanker enters Channel since Smyrtos boarding

A Russian shadow fleet tanker, the Forwarder, entered the English Channel on Wednesday evening, sailing south after departing from the port of Primorsk. This is the first such transit since British forces boarded the tanker Smyrtos on Sunday. The Forwarder, sailing under the Russian flag, is broadcasting its destination as Dongying, China.

The shadow fleet consists of hundreds of tankers used by Russia to evade Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since the Smyrtos incident, many sanctioned tankers have avoided the Channel, but the Forwarder has continued on its route. It has been sanctioned by the UK, the US, and the EU since 2025, and has changed its name twice after being accused of smuggling Russian oil.

Satellite imagery shows the Forwarder loaded oil at Primorsk on June 12, a major export hub. The British government has authorized boarding of sanctioned vessels in UK waters, but experts doubt the Forwarder will be intercepted. Frederik Van Lokeren, a former Belgian naval officer, said boarding would be a direct escalation against Russia, especially as the ship is Russian-flagged and possibly escorted by the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.

Mark Douglas of Starboard Maritime Intelligence noted that unlike the Smyrtos, whose flag was revoked, the Forwarder's flag is legitimate, making a legal basis for boarding weaker. Since the Smyrtos event, many sanctioned tankers have rerouted around Ireland, and in at least 94 instances, shadow fleet ships briefly entered UK territorial waters.