What happened to Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker crew?

9 hours ago

British forces boarded the vessel on 14 June

Ministry of Defence A large black and white boat on the sea with the word 'Smyrtos' on the side. A helicopter hovers just above it. — British forces boarded the vessel on 14 June

A Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker seized in the English Channel has been anchored off the Dorset coast for nearly two weeks where it is being monitored by national and local agencies.

Dorset Council said the 24 crew members from India and Georgia remained on board the Smyrtos and the Department for Transport had been carrying out daily welfare checks, ensuring they had access to food, water and essential supplies.

The council said the men were not under arrest but would be subject to UK immigration requirements if they came ashore.

The owner of the vessel remains legally responsible for the crew and the upkeep of the ship.

Crew members have all so far chosen to remain on board.

The MT Smyrtos, has been anchored off Weymouth since the Royal Marines Commandos operation on 14 June as part of efforts to disrupt so-called shadow or ghost ships that evade sanctions by concealing their origin or ownership.

The operation was carried out by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers

Ministry of Defence A still showing a military personnel on a helicopter above a large vessel. He is wearing green tactical gear and a helmet and gloves and is looking down at the boat. The water and sky are blue. — The operation was carried out by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers

A council spokesperson said Local Resilience Forum partners, including emergency services and the NHS, were monitoring any potential local impact and making sure communities were kept informed.

They said: "The tanker will remain at anchor off Weymouth unless circumstances change.

"It is being monitored around the clock to make sure it stays secure and stable."

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is among those monitoring the vessel.

An inspection found no environmental or safety concerns.

The Ministry of Defence said Russia was using a fleet of more than 700 vessels to carry 75% of its oil to avoid sanctions on exports imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.

The ship's captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with supplying prohibited oil from Russia to a third country and is due to appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on 16 July.