Belgium Seizes Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in North Sea Operation

Belgium Seizes Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in North Sea Operation

Belgian authorities have intercepted and seized an oil tanker allegedly linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in a coordinated overnight operation in the North Sea, officials announced on Thursday.

The vessel, identified by federal prosecutors as the Ethera, was stopped within Belgium’s exclusive economic zone before being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge under military guard. The operation involved Belgian special forces and received aerial backing from French military helicopters.

Defence Minister Theo Francken said the tanker was intercepted as it was reportedly heading back to Russia. He confirmed that the ship was taken to Zeebrugge following the operation.

According to a spokeswoman for the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, the ship’s captain, a Russian national, is currently being questioned as part of a criminal investigation. Authorities suspect the tanker was sailing under a false flag.

Although the vessel was flying the Guinean flag, an inspection on board reportedly uncovered documents believed to be falsified. “Ship documents were found that are suspected of being false,” prosecutors said in a statement, adding that sailing under a false flag violates several international maritime regulations.

Belgium’s defence ministry stated that the tanker is listed under European Union sanctions imposed on vessels believed to be assisting Moscow in evading restrictions tied to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The EU has blacklisted hundreds of ships suspected of enabling Russia to continue exporting crude oil despite sweeping sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on X that French naval forces supported the Belgian-led operation, describing the seizure as a significant setback for Russia’s efforts to bypass sanctions through a network of ageing tankers with opaque ownership structures.

Russia has relied on what Western officials call a “shadow fleet” a group of vessels operating under unclear ownership, frequently changing flags and insurers to continue moving oil to global markets despite restrictions aimed at curbing revenue used to finance the war in Ukraine.

Belgium’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Maxime Prévot, underscored the message behind the seizure. “Sanctions only matter if they are enforced. Today, we enforced them,” he wrote on X.

The investigation into the Ethera is ongoing as authorities examine the ship’s documentation, ownership structure and potential violations of European sanctions law.