The European Union has proposed restrictions on three firms that have provided fake flags to sanctioned oil tankers in Russia’s shadow fleet, according to documents seen by Bloomberg.
The entities have supplied false Aruba, Curacao and Sint-Maarten flags to at least eight sanctioned vessels, the documents say.
None of the three territories appear in the so-called Paris register of official flags, meaning they don’t actually provide the service. The Netherlands warned the International Maritime Organization in a circular in May that companies were providing “fraudulent certificates” on behalf of Sint Maarten.
The proposed measures are part of the EU’s latest package of sanctions, which is currently being negotiated by member states.
The bloc is aiming to ramp up the pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet and squeeze Moscow’s oil revenues. The package also includes sanctions on about 120 additional vessels, bringing the total of listed entities to more than 560, as well as restrictions on several entities in third countries that enable Russia’s energy trade. EU sanctions require the backing of all member states before they’re adopted and details of measures could change before that happens.
Some capitals are increasing checks on vessels that travel in proximity of their waters to frustrate Russia’s oil flows even further. France said it stopped and investigated a ship last week for failing to provide proof of its nationality. President Emmanuel Macron said later atan EU summit in Copenhagen that detaining suspicious oil tankers could hinder the shadow fleet’s operations.
Photograph: An oil vessel; photo credit: Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg
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