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. This initiative aims to delay the movement of sanctioned oil and financially impact the Kremlin. The EU has engaged in extensive diplomatic discussions with these states as part of its strategy.

Legal Framework and Objectives

The core of the policy involves establishing "pre-boarding agreements" with flag states. These agreements would provide a legal basis for one party to board and search a vessel from another country. The EU claims success in convincing some flag states to remove shadow fleet vessels from their registries. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sanctioned over 550 ships across 19 rounds of measures and has also targeted private companies enabling these operations.

Enforcement Actions and Escalation

While the EU has threatened to board ships lacking proper flags or insurance, such actions have been rare. A significant enforcement occurred in late September when the French Navy boarded and detained the shadow fleet tanker Boracay, which was flying a false flag of Benin, on suspicions it was linked to disruptive drone flights in Danish airspace. The vessel's senior crew were briefly detained before it was allowed to continue. French President Emmanuel Macron described this as part of a new policy of obstruction against the shadow fleet. The EU has reportedly identified other vessels with dubious flag status for potential targeting.

Regional Measures and Expert Concerns

Denmark is increasing ship inspections at the Skagen Red anchorage, a key gateway for thousands of ships traveling to and from the Baltic Sea. However, experts have warned that an EU policy of boarding ships in international waters could violate rights of passage rules and set a precedent, encouraging other states to take similar actions in disputed global hotspots.