The European Union, through its foreign policy chief, is pursuing agreements with flag states to legally board and search vessels in Russia's "shadow fleet," which is used to circumvent sanctions on Russian crude oil. The objective is to delay the movement of these ships and financially impact the Kremlin. This strategy involves "extensive diplomatic talks" with flag states to establish pre-boarding agreements, providing a legal framework for such inspections.

Enforcement Actions and Sanctions

The EU has sanctioned over 550 ships across 19 rounds of measures since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, targeting not only the vessels but also private companies facilitating flag state operations. While the bloc has threatened to board ships lacking proper flags or insurance, actual enforcement has been rare. A notable exception occurred in late September when the French Navy detained the Benin-flagged tanker Boracay on suspicion of involvement in disruptive drone flights in Danish airspace. This action, described by French President Emmanuel Macron as part of a new obstruction policy, led to the brief detention of two senior crew members before the vessel was released.

Expanding Scrutiny and Regional Measures

The EU has identified additional vessels with dubious flag status for potential targeting, and Denmark is intensifying ship inspections at the Skagen Red anchorage, a key transit point for thousands of ships entering and leaving the Baltic Sea. However, experts caution that boarding ships in international waters could violate rights of passage norms and set a precedent for similar actions by other states in global hotspots, raising concerns about the policy's broader implications.